HomeThe mission of the Melanie Foundation is to provide financial assistance to graduate students in the mental health field. Each year a scholarship is awarded in Ms. O’Donnell’s name to promote her legacy of helping others through the exercise of wisdom and compassion. Through scholarship awards and fundraising activities, the Foundation seeks to raise awareness about the inextricable link between mental health issues and community violence. Moreover, scholarship recipients advance the Foundation's mission by devoting their energies and talents to the needs of victims, as well as the needs of emergency management professionals and health care practitioners.
The Melanie Foundation Application and Information
What is being awarded?
The Melanie Foundation Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship to be awarded to a candidate pursuing a doctoral or master’s degree in the mental health field.
How long will the scholarship last?
The scholarship will be awarded to a candidate for one year.
Candidates may reapply for additional years.
Who is eligible for the scholarship?
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Currently enrolled or accepted into a graduate program majoring in the mental health field in the United States. Programs must be accredited by the credentialing agency appropriate to the field of study.
- Provide evidence of past involvement in extracurricular, volunteer, research, and/or career-related activities.
- Demonstrate experience and interest in one or more of the ideals to which Melanie Merola O’Donnell committed herself.
What are the application requirements?
- Curriculum vitae and cover letter. Please include e-mail address.
- Official undergraduate transcripts and/or official graduate transcripts.
- Three letters of reference supporting the candidate’s application from adults who have known the candidate for more than 1 year (at least one from a professional in the mental health field, another from an individual who has known the candidate either personally or professionally for 5 years or more). Letters of reference should be sent with the applicant's completed application packet. Each letter should be in a sealed envelope with a signature across the seal.
- A typed (double-spaced) essay of no more than 2-3 pages on how your experiences in the mental health profession have shaped your life and how you will use your college and graduate education to assist communities in a manner consistent with Melanie Merola O’Donnell’s values of compassion, generosity, respect, and honesty.
- Please mail all application documents together.
As an option you may choose one of the following quotes to incorporate into your statement:
"Dreams are the touchstones of our character." Henry David Thoreau
"All people want is someone to listen." Georgia O'Keeffe
"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." Mother Teresa
Deadline
Deadline for receipt of the 2012 completed scholarship application is March 5, 2012.
All documents must be printed or copied single sided.
Scholarship recipient will be personally notified and publicly announced by June 15, 2012. All other applicants will be notified electronically.
The Melanie Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, Vietnam-era or disabled veteran status in its selection process.
If you have questions, please contact:
Kara Water at kwatkk@aol.com or Colleen Sanita at csanita@nycap.rr.com
Mail Complete Application Package to:
The Melanie Foundation Scholarship Committee
Mrs. Kara Waters
34 Wedgewood Drive
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Privacy Policy: The Melanie Foundation does not collect information from site visitors only from applicants to the scholarship. The applicant information collected is used exclusively to select a scholarship recipient. Applicants will be contacted only if there are clarifying questions regarding application information and to inform applicants of their status. Thank you.
George O'Donnell, president of The Melanie Foundation, presenting a check to members of Franklin Community Center in 2011.
The 2007 Saratoga Palio
Race Poster
The 2011 Saratoga Palio
Race Poster
The Melanie Foundation hosts a half marathon and 5k race to raise funds for scholarships and other charitable giving. Please visit The Saratoga Palio website for more details.
