SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Designed to provide funding to those with a spinal cord injury in need of equipment or services to support their passion for a healthy, active and independent lifestyle.
Program Overview
Eligibility: Applicants must have a traumatic spinal cord injury due to single, catastrophic event. Viral, bacterial, tumor or other related disorders that impact the spinal cord DO NOT qualify.
Note: If this is an immediate medical or life necessity, please apply for Emergency Funding.
Categories: Applicants may submit a scholarship application to cover part or all of the cost for products and services such as educational assistance, medical supplies, sports equipment, personal growth & development, therapy and transportation.
Other Highlights:
- Scholarships are available for up to $5,000 per applicant (note: detailed estimate/invoice should be submitted with application.)
- Individuals are eligible to receive one (1) Scholarship per calendar year.
- A total of $20,000-$25,000 is awarded per selection cycle.
- There are two selection cycles every year - mid-year in May and year-end in October.
Application Process:
To apply for a Will2Walk Scholarship, please fill out the Application in its entirety and submit with any supporting documentation.
- Once your application is received, it will be reviewed and scored by the Will2Walk Scholarship Committee.
- The Committee will make recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval.
- You will be contacted directly if additional information is needed or if there are any questions regarding your application.
- You will be notified within 30 days of the application deadline if your request for funding has been approved or denied.
Questions can be directed to scholarships@will2walk.org.
Program Terms and Conditions:
As stated above, scholarship funds will be disbursed to a third-party vendor responsible for providing the product or service. Will2Walk reserves the right to rescind the scholarship or sponsorship if these terms and conditions are not met.
If selected to receive a Will2Walk Scholarship, you agree to share your story to for the purposes of Will2Walk communications and to positively impact the lives of others with spinal cord injuries.
Program Dates
Mid-Year Cycle
Application Deadline: May 1
Decision By: May 31
Year-end Cycle
Application Deadline: Oct 1
Decision By: Oct 31
Other Scholarship Opportunities
Will2Walk encourages all scholarship applicants to pursue as many opportunities as possible to secure funding. As a courtesy, we have gathered information of other organizations that offer funding for education, sports equipment, therapy, etc. Please click on the links below to access the PDFs.
Latest Recipients
"I want to get stronger as I recently became a grandmother! This funding will help me a great deal to build the strength I need to hold the baby. I am so grateful that I have a chance to achieve my goals!"
Scholarship Recipient Gracie Valencia of Colorado | Awarded $1,400 | Therapy
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
🎬 Great video from 2021 scholarship recipient Kaitlyn Verfuerth that we shared with supporters at our recent golf tournament. Your dollars at work 👏
youtu.be/uarwj-wEhkc
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
“To be able to drive myself where necessary is a luxury I have missed and not having to rely on others to transport me is a blessing. Being awarded this scholarship allows the hand controls needed to be installed in my van, which gives me the freedom to take myself wherever I need to go. I will forever be thankful and grateful for the Will2Walk Foundation for enriching my life in a way that I couldn’t.”
Scholarship Recipient John Sams of Michigan | Awarded $2,000 | Vehicle Hand Controls
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
Thank you so very much! Humbled and blessed ❤️
Congratulations 🎉🥳🎉
That's awesome ❤️
Awesome
Well deserved! One of the most humbled dudes I've ever been fortunate enough to call a friend. 🤘🏼🤘🏼
"The Will2Walk scholarship has helped me with funding toward a Bowhead Reach adaptive mountain bike. I will be able to get outdoors and into the forest, the best place for healing!"
Scholarship Recipient Jennifer Gadoua of Canada | Awarded $2,000 | Sports Equipment
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
"Thank you, Will2Walk, for making our home accessible, beautiful and getting it done so fast. It has been life changing!"
Emergency Fund Recipient Jessica Haber of Arizona | Awarded $3,000 | Ramp/Driveway Modification
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
"Will2Walk has given me the opportunity to better myself in sports. Before I got injured, I was very active in sports and following my injury I wanted to stay active. Will2Walk helped me do exactly that and I couldn’t be more grateful for them and the community they support! Thank you for keeping my dreams alive!"
Scholarship Recipient Jessica Larsen of Arizona | Awarded $829 | Basketball Chair
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
Jessica Larsen. I see you are from AZ. Could you tell me where you are playing wheelchair basketball. Would love to see you play.
"As a quadriplegic, I have made strides in improving both my health and mobility by working out and doing physical therapies - but healing takes time. The funding from Will2Walk will allow me more time to continue my therapies at NeuAbility as I slowly, but surely, regain control of my body.”
Scholarship Recipient Andrew Lang of Colorado | Awarded $1,000 | Therapy
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
“Will2Walk gave me the possibility to travel freely and comfortably!”
Scholarship Recipient Francois Fried of Florida | Awarded $1,500 | Travel Shower Chair
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
"Thanks to the support from Will2Walk, I can head back to the lanes. I will no longer spend half an hour searching for an alley ball that fits me. Let the strikes begin!"
Scholarship Recipient Dennis Hooper of Oregon | Awarded $250 | Bowling ball & bag
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
"Climbed a mountain with my son today - thought this might never happen. The bike is amazing, this was so meaningful to be able to do this with my son. It would never have happened without the support of Will2Walk. Thank you SO MUCH - I am forever grateful."
Scholarship Recipient Jim Beck of Alaska | Awarded $1,000 | Off Road Bike
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
Great work Richard
"I grew up surrounded by sports - whether it was competing in triathlons, free diving or playing club soccer, I was constantly outdoors and moving around. It was a major part of my life for many years and shaped me into the person I am today. After I was injured, I didn’t know if I would ever be able to compete the same way again. After learning about all of the various adaptive sports, I knew that I needed to find a way to get back out there and push myself again. The Will2Walk Foundation has given me the amazing opportunity to purchase my own handcycle to begin training again, which is foundational for me to reignite my athletic career and pursue my passions. Thank you very much for all your generosity - words cannot express how grateful I am. I hope I can represent Will2Walk well and potentially inspire other athletes to pursue their goals along the way!
Scholarship Recipient Will Cotter of Florida | Awarded $1,000 | Handcycle
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
"I'm 70 years old and have been a quadriplegic for 56 years. I believe you need to accept the situation, assess the situation, PRAY and overcome. Because of organizations like Will2Walk, being able to acquire adaptive equipment has made my journey easier - THANK YOU."
Scholarship Recipient Wayne Benton of Georgia | Awarded $1,000 | Sports Equipment - Firefly
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
What great things this organization helps happen!
“As a Para Badminton athlete for Team USA, there are so many things that I can say I am grateful for in this life. But the kindness of the organizations that have allowed me to have the independence to live my life on my terms has been not only appreciated, but needed. I am more than grateful for Will2Walk providing me the independence of going where I want, when I want. I love that I can load my sports equipment into my car and drive cross country to work with my coaches and teammates. This gift of hand controls has made it possible for me and I am singing their praises from coast to coast.”
Scholarship Recipient Amy Burnett of Tennessee | Awarded $1,500 | Vehicle Hand Controls
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
Nice one Richard Hamill!!!
"Will2Walk has made an incredible contribution toward my Wheelchair Tennis career! Supporting me in travels to numerous tournaments around the Southwest gives me the opportunity to focus on my tennis game, not the expenses involved - so huge!! I greatly appreciate Will2Walk. Ya'll are awesome!"
Scholarship Recipient Jordan Koeninger of Arizona | Awarded $1,000 | Tennis Fees
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
"I am incredibly grateful for organizations like Will2Walk that help athletes like me get the equipment we need. Without your support, I would not have been able to purchase the lightest and fastest Carbonbike-USA. Thank you for supporting elite athletes that live with spinal cord injuries. This equipment is LIFE CHANGING!!!"
Scholarship Recipient Kaitlyn Verfuerth of Arizona | Awarded $3,000 | Racing Wheelchair
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
"Will2Walk has supported me to maintain quality of life with freedom. I'm a wheelchair user with a spinal cord injury since 1995 and rely on my transportation for independence. I was stuck at home since June 2021 due to vehicle issues and was struggling until Will2Walk provided assistance so I can get back out on the road! This was a life-changing opportunity that not only had a positive impact on me, but also my family and friends! Thank you very much with every beat of my heart and I hope that other special needs individuals in the community can be uplifted by this!"
Scholarship Recipient Joseph Ouellette of Michigan | Awarded $650 | Transportation
#will2walk #w2wscholarship
🙏🏼
Good on yah Will2Walk Foundation!!!
HIGHLIGHTED RECIPIENTS
Amanda Perla
AWARDED $2,200
Amanda was awarded a scholarship for a new ActiveAid Evolution Series Rehab Shower Chair. Her severe spasms made it a necessity to have a safe chair to bathe. During her senior year in High School, Amanda was injured in a car accident.
Read Amanda's Full Story
Joe Jackson
AWARDED $3,500
Joseph Jackson of Phoenix, Arizona was awarded a scholarship for a new, competitive rugby chair. Joseph plays rugby with the Phoenix Heat. At age 16, Joseph suffered a football injury that left him an incomplete c6 quadriplegic.
Read Joe's Full Story
Erick Hernandez
Awarded $5,000
Erick was awarded a scholarship to complete a month-long, intense rehabilitation exercise program at SCI-FIT (SCI Functional Integrated Therapy). Erick was injured in a diving accident in 2010 that resulted in C4-C5 incomplete fracture and paralysis.
Read Erick's Full Story
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Jennifer Chaillie
Jennifer, an inaugural scholarship recipient in 2012, received a grant for a new hand-cycle. LEARN MORE
Adrienne Cole
Adrienne was a scholarship recipient in 2018 for a MOTOmed viva2 light bike.
Anne von Rosen
Anne, a 2018 scholarship recipient, was awarded funds for strength training therapy.
