CF Foundation receives grant to help students overcome financial barriers

The College of Central Florida Foundation will continue to provide financial assistance to college students who may not quality for other financial aid through the 2026-27 academic year, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The scholarship prioritizes students who are parents and are working to improve opportunities for themselves and their families through higher education.

This marks the seventh consecutive year the CF Foundation has received funding from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County through the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund, bringing their total scholarship support to $480,000.

Since 2020, the Edward K. Roberts Scholarship has helped more than 200 CF students pursue their educational goals and remain enrolled despite financial challenges. Funding is available for students studying at the CF Ocala Campus, Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus and Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus.

“We are thankful for the continued support of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund, said Jerry Benton, chair of the CF Foundation board of directors. “This scholarship opens doors for students who are working hard to create brighter futures for themselves and their families.”

The scholarship reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to higher education and supporting student success across the state of Florida.

About the CF Foundation
The CF Foundation, founded in 1959, is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation that enhances the college’s programs and services through the development and management of private contributions and community partnerships. To learn more, visit CF.edu/Foundation.

About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $44.7 million last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has granted more than $542 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families and businesses. For more information, visit CFSarasota.org.