TOPP Foundation's Type 1 Diabetes Higher Education Scholarship

TOPP Foundation started the TOPP Higher Education Scholarship in 2022 to recognize and award local high school seniors with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who are pursuing higher education at a college or vocational school. TOPP Foundation is proud to support students who are living with T1D. These students display courage, determination, and resilience every day as they thrive and succeed while also dealing with an unpredictable and demanding chronic illness. To date, TOPP has awarded scholarships to seven students for the strength they display every day as they cope with a relentless illness.

This scholarship is open to 2024 high school graduates planning to continue their education at a college or a trade school. Applicants must live in Bucks County, Montgomery County, or Philadelphia County. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is 6/30/2024.

The medical costs of T1D can be daunting and TOPP understands that paying for higher education can be an additional financial hardship for families and individuals. The students selected to receive a scholarship from the TOPP Foundation will receive $500 to help with tuition costs as they begin their post-secondary education. Please visit www.toppfoundation.org for more information about this program and to access the scholarship application.

About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

Unlike the more common Type 2 Diabetes, T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. There is currently no cure, and its causes are not fully known. People with T1D are dependent on injected or pumped insulin and need to carefully regulate their blood sugar to stay alive. Living with T1D is a full-time balancing act requiring constant attention and meticulous planning to avoid acute, life-threatening hypoglycemia or the long-term damage done by hyperglycemia.

About TOPP Foundation (Type One Parent Project)

Founded in 2016, TOPP’s mission is to support local families touched by T1D by providing diabetes camp scholarships and college scholarships while also striving to increase awareness and raise funds for cure-focused research. Since its start in 2016, and through fundraising events, TOPP has donated a total of $170,500 to cure-based research. In addition to their higher education scholarship, the organization created the TOPP Camp Scholarship Program in 2018. This program enhances the quality of life for youth living with T1D by providing financial assistance to attend specialized overnight diabetes camps. Between 2018-2023, this program has awarded twenty-one camp scholarships to children and teens with T1D. Also, in 2023, the TOPP Foundation made available family camp scholarships for Family Camp at Camp Nejeda. These weekends are a great introduction to the camp experience for younger children, newly diagnosed children, and children who do not feel ready to attend summer camp on their own. TOPP Foundation is 100% funded by donations. If you would like to donate to this program or TOPP’s camp scholarship program, please contact Christine at christine@toppfund.org or donate directly from the TOPP website. For more information about TOPP Foundation, visit www.toppfoundation.org.