Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois now offering scholarship program
Scholarship program will recognize top performance among graduating high school seniors in educational excellence and community involvement

[January 11, 2016]  SPRINGFIELD - Beginning this year, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois (RMHCCI) will participate in the RMHC Scholars Program for high school seniors. Students who have demonstrated educational excellence and involvement in their community will have the opportunity to apply for one of 12 $2,000 scholarships through the program.

The goal of the RMHC Scholars Program is to provide resources to students who need financial assistance to attend college. Since 1985, more than 31,000 students across the U.S. have received more than $59 million in scholarships. The funding of this program comes through a combination of local chapter funds matched by RMHC’s global organization.

“We are excited to be participating in the RMHC Scholars Program for the first time ever and provide assistance to graduating high school seniors,” said Kelly Thompson, Executive Director of RMHCCI. “The RMHC Scholars Program provides all high school seniors in our chapter’s region who wish to continue their education the opportunity to apply for a scholarship and receive financial assistance to attend college. It is our goal to help make the dream of a college education a reality for students throughout central Illinois.”

Eligible high school seniors must live within the 29-county chapter region of RMHCCI and carry a minimum 2.7 grade point average. The 29-county region includes: Adams, Brown, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Coles, Dewitt, Douglas, Effingham, Ford, Fulton, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion, and Woodford counties.

More information, including how to apply, can be found on RMHCCI’s website at www.rmhc-centralillinois.org. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is January 20, 2016.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation whose mission is to provide a supportive home away from home for families that travel to Springfield, Illinois in order for their child to receive medical care. We provide families with a bed, a warm shower, home-cooked meals and more to help ease the stress they face during a medical crisis. For more information, visit www.rmhc-centralillinois.org, follow RMHCCI on Twitter (@RMHCCI), or like RMHCCI on Facebook (Facebook.com/rmhcci).

About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Through its global network of 300 Chapters in more than 60 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, the Ronald McDonald Family Room® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs, enable family-centered care, provide a bridge to quality health care, are a vital part of the health care continuum and give children and families the time they need to heal and cope better together. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org, follow RMHC on Twitter (@RMHC), or like RMHC on Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHC Global).

[Johanna Moll]