THIS IS ME FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES STUDENTS OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

This is me foundation RECOGNIZES students OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Westchester organization provides six scholarships to graduating high school seniors locally and nationally 

Peekskill, NY – (July 1, 2013) In 2012, the This is Me Foundation awarded its first college scholarships to two Peekskill High School graduating seniors, and this year proudly expanded its philanthropic efforts presenting six awards to deserving students, both locally and nationally.

2013 winners include:

•      Peekskill High School (Peekskil, NY) graduates: Nosazena Iyekegbe, who will be attending the College of Staten Island and Cynthia Vele, who will attend Colgate University

•      Walter Panas High School (Cortlandt Manor, NY) graduates: Jessica Montanez, who will be attending Rutgers University and Corey Dean, who will attend Cornell University

•      Traverse City West High School (Traverse City, MI) graduate: Grace Wiesner, who will be attending Hope College

•      North Providence High School (North Providence, RI) graduate: Marissa Martino, who will be attending Johnson & Wales University

The This is Me Foundation, founded in February 2012, by Peekskill, NY natives and sisters Lauren and Caitlin Brady, was created to raise awareness about alopecia while giving hope to any individual facing adversity. The Brady sisters, both diagnosed in their teens with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss, faced personal challenges as young women.

The sisters originally formulated the idea of “This is Me” through a video project featuring people of different backgrounds and ages highlighting and accepting their insecurities.  After the untimely deaths of two dear friends, Ryan Risco and Caitlin Pohill, “This Is Me” expanded into a foundation offering scholarships in the names and in honor of both. The college scholarships are awarded to high school seniors enrolled in college who have displayed leadership skills while facing adversity of any kind, or helping others through adversity.

“Last year we were excited to be able to award two scholarships to students from our hometown, and now to be able to triple that and expand our reach beyond the local community is beyond our dreams,” commented This Is Me co-founder, Lauren Brady. “The generosity of our friends, family and strangers are what make this possible, and we are so grateful for their support of our mission.”

Funding for the scholarships comes from donations, the sales of “This is Me” merchandise, events organized by the foundation throughout the year and the foundation’s signature event, the Annual This is Me Summer Fundraiser with a carnival theme. The summer fundraiser this year will be held Sunday, July 14th from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Brady Residence, 1829 Maple Avenue, Peekskill, NY. A donation of $25 includes food, beverages, music, entertainment and more. Children 12 and under are free. 

“We want to keep doing what we’re doing and continue our mission of helping people through adversity,” said Brady. “This fundraiser is a great way for the community to come together and help us to continue the scholarship program for years to come.”

For further information about the This Is Me Foundation, the College Scholarship Fund and the annual summer fundraiser, visit www.thisismefoundation.com 

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The This Is Me Foundation was created to raise awareness about alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss, while giving hope to any individual facing adversity. Founded in 2012 by sisters Lauren and Caitlin Brady, the organization began awarding scholarships in June 2012 as part of through the This is Me College Scholarship Fund. The college scholarships are awarded to high school seniors enrolled in college who have displayed leadership skills while facing adversity of any kind, or helping others through adversity.