Program areas at SOWF
Scholarship grants: 192 children attended colleges or other post secondary educational institutions in 2023 and the Foundation also coordinated grants with outside agencies that, additionally, provided approximatley $4.9 million to the children attending college, our grants include funding for tuition, room and board, books, tutoring, computers, fees, transportation, and personal expenses.sowf retained ernst & young llp to prepare an actuarial valuation for funding purposes to summarize the present value of the projected need of the scholarship program as of december 31, 2022. (continued on schedule o).the actuarial valuation incorporated both current and projected future beneficiaries of the program and provided information regarding alternative patterns and sensitivity of discount rates and investment returns on the anticipated donations needs. The results concluded the present value of the projected need of the scholarship program to be approximately $401 million at december 31, 2022, with an unfunded projected need of approximately $224 million at december 31, 2022.
Support to Special Operations wounded personnel: the Foundation provided direct financial support to 55 severely combat wounded or injured Special Operations people and their families while the wounded Special Operations service members recovered in a u.s.hospital.
Counseling and tutoring: the Foundation provided educational counseling to over 900 children that have not yet reached college age or started their post secondary education. 280 of these children were in middle and high school and received academic planning materials and started preparing to begin their post secondary education. In home tutoring was available to all children from kindergarten age through college graduation. The Foundation also funded visits to colleges for high school seniors. (continued on schedule o).the Foundation conducts an annual college preparation conference/seminar for our high school juniors and seniors. The students are lodged on a college campus, coached in college finances, social responsibilities, taught how to write a college admissions essay, learn about expectations from college professors, and are mentored by sowf college graduates. The Foundation pays the full cost of all transportation, lodging, and meals. The cost of the 2023 program was $71,854.in 2023 the Foundation provided grants totaling $208,532 to families with pre-school children ages 2-5. This program began in september 2017 and is now a permanent addition to the program services the Foundation provides.