Program areas at DMSF
Financial assistance - the Fund provides scholarships and other financial support to economically disadvantaged chicago area students allowing them to attend leading private and parochial high schools in the chicago area and top boarding schools across the country. During the 2022/2023 and 2021/2022 school years, the Fund served 442 and 448 scholars, respectively.
Summer opportunities, including the caddie program - the objective of the summer opportunities program is to present scholars with summer job opportunities, internships, cultural and study abroad programs, sports programs and community service programs. As part of the summer opportunities program, the Fund provides summer golf caddie employment opportunities for scholars. Scholars caddie at nearby country clubs, earning income, gaining work experience and developing life skills.
College counseling - the Fund works with scholars throughout their four years in high school and most intensively in their junior and senior years, assisting the scholars as they search for an appropriate college and for funding to help pay for that college.
Other:mentoring - scholars who wish to participate are matched with an adult mentor for their four years in high school. The Fund also operates an affinity program, in which ten to fifteen students meet every other week with an adult facilitator to discuss issues common to many of the scholars.tutoring - the Fund helps find and Fund tutors for scholars whose gpas fall below 3.0 or who seek additional help. The Fund also operates a virtual tutoring platform during the school year.bridge to excellence - the Fund works with leap! Learning systems and educational endeavors to provide two weeks of mandatory classes for all incoming freshman scholars, focusing on language skills, time managements, study skills and critical thinking.