Foya is a mother of three, working full-time, and closing in on her nursing degree. She's exactly the kind of person the American Dream is supposed to work for: employed, driven, playing by the rules. And yet, like nearly half of her neighbors in Sarasota and Manatee counties, she's been caught in a gap where a paycheck isn't enough to cover the true cost of living.
"This scholarship will ease the financial burden of continuing my education and help me stay focused on finishing strong," Foya said. "Your generosity is not only helping me reach my dream of becoming a registered nurse, but it is also making a lasting difference in my family's future and in the lives of the patients I will one day serve."
Foya is one of 106 women who received a share
of $132,500 in scholarships this year from the Women's Resource Center (WRC). Many of the 106 recipients, the largest scholarship class in the program's history, were celebrated during the organization's annual Supported Scholar Luncheon in March.
The awards land at a critical moment: the newly released United Way ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report found that 42% of Manatee County households and 43% of Sarasota County households fall below the ALICE threshold. This means they are earning too much to qualify for assistance, but not enough to cover housing, childcare, healthcare, and transportation.
"These women are doing everything we ask of people who want to improve their lives. They're working, raising families, and pursuing education," said Ashley Brown, CEO of the Women's Resource Center. "Yet the latest ALICE data confirms what we see every day and that is many hardworking families still struggle to make ends meet. Scholarships help bridge that gap by providing women with a pathway to higher wages, greater stability, and long-term economic security."
This year's scholarship recipients are a portrait of ALICE:
· 84% are employed while attending school
· 69% are parents collectively raising 148 children
· 57% of those parents are single parents raising children on their own
· 63% rent their homes
· $37,000 is the average student debt recipients are already carrying
· 35 is the average age, reflecting a growing wave of adult learners returning to school for a shot at financial stability
"When we invest in a woman's education, we invest in an entire family," Brown said. "The impact of these scholarships reaches far beyond the classroom. It creates stronger households, a more skilled workforce, and a more resilient community."
Growing coalition of funders
The record-setting class was made possible by a growing coalition of funders and community partners. WRC's long-standing partnership with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County includes the 2Gen (Two-Generation) Parent Success Program, which helps parents build skills and stability that benefit both their careers and their children's futures. Twenty-eight of this year's scholars are part of the CFSC 2Gen partnership.
Additional support came from Bank of America Foundation, The Schoenbaum Family Foundation, United Way Suncoast, Venice Golf and Country Club Foundation, The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle, University Park Women's Club, and dozens of individual donors across the community.
Since its inception, WRC's scholarship program has helped thousands of women pursue educational opportunities that lead to meaningful employment, increased earnings, and greater financial independence. The 2026 scholarship cohort reflects the organization's mission to empower women to build financially secure, successful, and fulfilling lives.
Every scholarship helps write a story like Foya's, a parent, a worker, and a student, closing in on a future that once felt out of reach. To help write the next one, visit MyWrc.org.
Submitted by Su Byron
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: WRC scholarships help working moms finish their degrees
