Comedian to entertain at Dollars for Scholars fundraiser

NORWICH – Norwich Dollars for Scholars has continually hosted fundraisers to help local high school seniors reach their goals of attending college.

This non-pofit, tax exempt program is locally operated, supported and helps students who want to further their education after high school. The program strives to lessen the burden of college loans and help ensure that students learn about the support communities can offer.

The program was established in 2003 and the student chapter began in 2005. The program was originally a network of grassroots, being based on community volunteerism. Working as a community is the program’s ideal advantage.

“If we can encourage kids to have a better understanding of community, it will teach them to appreciate the community,” said Chris Frank of the Norwich City School Board.

Dollars for Scholars founder Dr. Irving Franklin was an optometrist who saw a need for providing incentives for young people considering post-secondary education. There are now 1,200 scholar chapters.

In only three years of service in the area, the local chapter has given $27,000 out in the form of 47 scholarships. There were 16 scholarships available last year, up to $500 each. The scholarships that are disbursed depend on the amount of money collected in the variety of fundraisers held each year. Each scholarship is a single-year grant.