PBTF awards $264,000 in scholarships

PBTF scholarships help brain tumor survivors like Julia achieve their dream of attending college.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® has awarded a record $264,000 in college scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year.

The 236 scholarship recipients include brain tumor survivors as well as children and siblings of brain tumor patients.

“When we began our fundraising efforts in 1984, very few children survived their brain tumors,” said PBTF Executive Director Brian Traynor. “Today we are seeing better outcomes for many patients, and more of the survivors are planning to attend college. However, medical expenses take their toll. We created our scholarship program to help ease the financial burden on families.”

Students and their families appreciate the effort. “The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation provides excellent support, for not only myself, but the many others who endure the same struggle,” said Katelyn, a brain tumor survivor who plans to major in early childhood education at the College of St. Rose.

The program is funded in part by the Cycle World Joseph C. Parkhurst Education Fund Silent Auction, held in conjunction with the annual Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo.

The creation of the Tim and Tom Gullikson Family Support Fund at the PBTF in late 2008 gave the scholarship program an enormous boost. The fund honors the legacy of the late tennis champion and coach Tim Gullikson, who died of brain cancer in 1996.

The fund also continues the work of the former Tim and Tom Gullikson Foundation (TTGF). Tennis stars Pete Sampras and Corina Morariu provided seed funding for TTGF’s scholarship program, now part of the Tim and Tom Gullikson Family Support Fund at the PBTF.

The PBTF has awarded 633 scholarships since 2002. Recipients have attended vocational schools, community colleges and universities across the United States.

Scholarship applications for the 2010-11 academic year will be available in October 2009. For more information, contact familysupport@pbtfus.org or call 800-253-6530.

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation®
302 Ridgefield Ct.
Asheville, NC 28806

828-665-6891
800-253-6530
828-665-6894 (fax)
e-mail: info@pbtfus.org
website: www.pbtfus.org

All materials of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® and Ride for Kids® contained herein or elsewhere are copyrighted ©.