History/Organization

Now a national effort, the Kids' Chance mission of providing scholarships to children of Pennsylvania workers killed or injured in a work-related accident resulting in financial need was initiated by the Worker's Compensation Section of the Georgia Bar in 1988. There are currently 27 states that have created independent Kids' Chance organizations. Kids' Chance of PA was founded as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization in 1997.

Scholarship funds for Kids' Chance of PA come through fully tax-deductible donations from individuals, companies, foundations, the United Way and various organizations active in workers' compensation matters. Annual golf outings raise additional scholarship funds.

The Corporate & Community Partner Program raises operational support for Kids' Chance of PA. Partners include insurance companies, third party administrators, law firms, health and rehabilitation related organizations and professional associations such as the Workers' Compensation section of the Pennsylvania Bar and the Pennsylvania Self-Insurers' Association.

For 2006-2007, the ACE Foundation continued their commitment with a generous grant that will allow Kids' Chance of PA to grant special scholarship awards to top applicants demonstrating both exceptional academic promise and significant financial need. (See the list of recipients for this year's ACE INA scholars.)

The Scholars Program, initiated in 2007, invites sponsors to pledge $25,000 over a 5-year period for grants which they may name and specify preferred fields of study.

Partnership with the PATH Program to Leverage Funds
Kids' Chance of Pennsylvania, through a partnership with the PATH Program of the American Education Service and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Association Agency (PHEAA), has leveraged significant additional grant aid for eligible Kids' Chance scholarship recipients since 2003. For 2006-2007, Kids' Chance of Pa’s 3rd year of partnership with PATH, over $15,000 in matching grants were given to 15 eligible scholarship recipients with remaining unmet financial need.

Kids' Chance of PA looks forward to continuing its partnership with PATH in order to leverage additional college grants for eligible students. The future generosity of Kids' Chance of PA donors will allow us to continue to leverage additional student grants through PATH.