SMILE Scholarship Program
General
In the High School SMILE (Scholarship Made for India's Less-fortunate Entrants)
program, selected high school students (Grades 9 through 12)
of India and neighboring countries are awarded a monthly stipend of Indian Rs. 500/-
throughout the high school years. Selection of students for award is based on both need and merit (merit-cum-means). Annual
academic achievement, judged by grades and overall academic performance in school, will determine
award eligibility for the next year. A Mentor Evaluation as assessed by the student's assigned mentor
helps us track the student's general progress and activities during the year.
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In the College SMILE
program, which is a "50-50 Regift" program, selected college students (starting from first-year college)
of India are awarded a monthly stipend of minimum Rs. 500/-
throughout the college years. Award is based on both need and merit (merit-cum-means). Annual
academic achievement, judged by grades and overall academic performance in school/college, will determine
award eligibility for the next year. The student may be asked to return half of the award money
in zero-interest easy installments beginning one year after graduation when he/she should have found a job.
The money thus realized will be used for
re-gifting to new students.
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Our recipients come from a segment of the population who are underserved and can barely afford
basic necessities on a very small income.
Yet, they are extremely motivated to get their children through high school, an opportunity very few
receive. It is our expectation and hope that the students
become even more motivated to excel in their class. With proper education, these bright and
motivated students can go to college and break the
cycle of poverty their families have seen for generations.
Lily Foundation encourages Lily-families - families receiving support - to help others in their community
while they receive help from
the foundation.
You can be a proud partner in such activities by donating to the fund
(print gift card), by searching a good candidate
for an award or by volunteering to be a monitor in the program.
Call Lily at (214) 351-1231 in USA or +33 2428-6773 in India. Download from here
scholarship application form.
Note that the cut-off date
for receiving applications at the office is 30th May.
Individual sponsorship
A special sponsorship program has been set up, where an individual can sponsor
a seat in high school for five, ten or twenty years as follows:
"White Lily"
Seat - Lifetime(20 years) for one-time contribution of $2800 [or Rs. 1 lakh 20,000]
"Pink Lily"
Seat - Long-term(10 years) for one-time contribution of $1500 [or Rs. 65,000]
"Blue Lily"
Seat - Full-term(5 years) for one-time contribution of $800 [or Rs. 35,000]
This scholarship is named after the sponsor's chosen name, such as
Lily-Nirmal Kumar Mukherji Memorial Scholarship, with a one-time minimum sponsorship of $1000 ( Rs. 40,000/-).
Monthly sponsoring has been made available since November 2002 for easy payment. For as little as
$15 a month or Rs. 600/- a month you can
provide full sponsorship of a high school kid. Please pledge
for monthly sponsoring now and also tell your friends to do so.
Once you have sponsored, we send you a confirmation letter
and a certificate for your records.
** The donation amounts shown here are current, and subject to change at Board's
decision.
Fund-raising
Lily Foundation members' money donations and Lily patron donations currently form a major part of the fund to support
our mission.
Additionally, a fund-raising dinner is organized annually specially for this purpose. Other means, such as
selling souvenirs, contribute a small but meaningful amount of money to the foundation.
Collection of monetary donations from the public will eventually constitute a significant part
of the fund. For this, mailing campaigns are taken up from time to time. Your generous
contribution may be sent to Lily Foundation, P. O. Box 59824, Dallas, TX 75229.
View the Scholarship Recipients information below:
SMILE Recipients [Click the top-band to see student details. Green were
former scholars.]
See Pictures
last updated 13-November-08
