Bethlen Évkönyv, 1993-1996 (Ligonier)

Dózsa György: Az Amerikai Magyar Református Egyesület 100. Évét Ünnepli

THE FEDERATION AND ITS

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Throughout its history, the Federtion was always involved with its youth — not only through the foster home (orphanage), which started in 1921 in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, when we cared and raised more than 1500 children between 1921 and 1978, but also through the summer school programs which started in 1931.

The 18th Convention in 1968 resolved that the Federation establish its own youth camp. For that purpose the Convention directed the Executive Committee to transfer $30,000 from its surplus to start the camp. The motivation behind this move was to re-establish, restore and extend contact with our juvenile members.

For the next few years there were several proposals and recommendations made, i.e. to buy or not to buy new premises, to rebuild and develop the barn area into a youth camp on the grounds of the Bethlen Home, etc. The end result was that the proposals and recommendations were never carried out.

Therefore, upon the recommendation of the Comptroller and some Board Members, the next Convention in 1972 transferred the earmarked monies for the youth camp to the Student Aid & Loan Fund of the HRFA. With the amount of money transferred into its account, the Student Aid & Loan Fund scholarship program came into effect in 1972.

The Federation incorporated its Student Aid & Loan Fund in 1977. Section 501(C)(3) of the IR Code of 1954 reads: “...to give financial aid and assistance to deserving, needy students entering or attending college or other types of professional institutions above the highschool level, provided such institutions are accredited by their state education authorities.”

Through the years the requirement to receive Student Aid changed. Presently, we grant a $500 to all applicants who are members of the Federation for at least 5 years, and are enrolled in an accredited college or professional institution. The appli-24