Love Our Children USA Announces Darko Rapotez Memorial Scholarship ForAbandoned Youth

Love Our Children USA, a national leading grassroots organization that honors, respects and protects children, today announced it has created the Darko Rapotez Memorial Scholarship for Abandoned Youth.

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) June 11, 2004 -- Love Our Children USA, a national leading grassroots organization that honors, respects and protects children, today announced it has created the Darko Rapotez Memorial Scholarship for Abandoned Youth. Scholarships will be awarded to abandoned youths on the basis of academic excellence and need. Abandoned youths from anywhere in the United States, who age out of the foster care system and who ordinarily would not be able to afford a college education are eligible to submit applications.

Youths must be emancipated or will be graduating from foster care, relative care and/or dependency. The scholarship will be available to undergraduate students who have aged out of the foster care system with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in their major and a GPA of 3.0 or higher overall.

The scholarship fund was created in memory of Darko Rapotez who was a passionate supporter of Love Our Children USA and its efforts to protect children. Mr. Rapotez passed away on August 23, 2004 in California. The father of three and a respected member of the California Manufactured Housing Association, he had a love for children and their right to be safe, loved and protected.

Ross Ellis, Love Our Children USA, Chief Executive Officer said when kids age out of the foster care system, they usually end up on the street or in dead end jobs. They rarely have the opportunity to attend college due to financial and systemic obstacles. Now we can give them a chance for a real future."

Love Our Children USA welcomes donations to help seed the fund. Ross Ellis encourages other organizations and individuals to donate additional funds to benefit the education of abandoned youths.

Application information will be available online at www.loveourchildrenusa.org in the fall of 2004.

Boilerplate:
A leading national grassroots voice for children, Love Our Children USA celebrates them and the loving relationships we should have with them. Their mission is to stop the cycle that victimizes children before it starts. They generate safety and nurturing, and promote positive changes in parenting and family attitudes, along with behaviors, and prevention strategies through public education campaigns. Love Our Children USA works to empower and support children, teens, parents, families and communities through information, resources, advocacy, and online youth mentoring.

Visit www.loveourchildrenusa.org or call 1.888.347.KIDS.
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