Echoes of Hope's <br/>Pay it Forward Scholarship🌟🎓

Thank you for your interest in the Pay It Forward Scholarship!

Echoes of Hope is excited to offer one college student the opportunity to receive up to $1,000 in support to help alleviate educational or basic needs expenses while pursuing their academic goals.

The Pay it Forward Scholarship is sponsored and created by one of our former Echoes of Hope Youth as a way for EOH Alumni to give back to current Echoes of Hope Youth and promote the spirit of community support and a legacy of love.

The Pay It Forward Scholarship is designed to support students who are working hard to build a brighter future while overcoming personal and financial challenges. We encourage applicants to share their authentic stories, educational goals, and how this support would help them continue their journey toward success.

Unlike traditional scholarships, funds are not provided directly to the selected recipient. Instead, Echoes of Hope will work alongside the recipient to make payments directly to approved schools, landlords, service providers, vendors, or retailers for eligible expenses, helping ensure the support goes exactly where it is needed most.

Applicants must meet ALL of the following eligibility criteria and submit the required documentation for verification in order to be considered:

Be between the ages of 18–30
Be currently enrolled in a college, university, vocational, or trade program for the Fall 2026 semester
Reside in one of the following counties and provide documentation verifying residency:
- Los Angeles County
- Orange County
- Riverside County
- San Bernardino County
- San Diego County
- Imperial County
- Ventura County
- Santa Barbara County
- San Luis Obispo County
Provide documentation demonstrating at-risk status (low-income, current/former foster youth, undocumented, probation youth, system-involved or impacted, currently/formerly homeless)
Complete the full application
Submit a 2–3 minute video responding to the required prompts

Submissions will close on August 21, 2026 at 11:45 p.m.

Winners will be announced on September 15th, 2026.

We look forward to learning more about you!

Full Name

First NameMiddle NameLast Name

School Attending

Major or Area of Study

County of Residence

Home Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / ProvincePostal / Zip CodeCountry

How did you hear about this scholarship?

Classification: (select all that apply)

Government Issued identification indicating age:

Copy of your unofficial school transcripts reflecting classes for the Fall 2026 semester:

If you are attending a trade school or vocational program, please feel free to submit any documentation indicating current enrollment AND program dates.

Upload documentation of your at-risk status (e.g., financial aid award letter, foster care documentation, etc.)

Upload documentation showing your residency in the selected county (e.g., utility bill, phone bill, etc.).)

Upload your 2–3 minute video response. Please answer ALL the following prompts in your video:

Share a little more about your background and the experiences that have shaped who you are today.
How would this scholarship support your overall journey and how do you plan to use the funds if chosen?
What barriers (educational, financial, emotional, etc.) have you encountered, how have they affected your path, and how do you hope to make a positive difference given those challenges?
What keeps you inspired or motivated to keep working toward your goals?

Upload your video here:

Any applications with videos exceeding 3 minutes will not be considered and will be ineligible for entry.

Date of Birth

Date

Echoes of Hope's Pay it Forward Scholarship🌟🎓

Document Upload: