Purple Pansies Awards its First Round of Scholarships

Staff Report

Wednesday, July 20th, 2022

Seven students have received scholarships this year, courtesy of Purple Pansies, an entirely volunteer run nonprofit, fighting to end pancreatic cancer and lessen the impact on affected individuals. This scholarship is significant for those who receive it, enabling them to further their education and focus on their future, instead of their fight with this terrible disease.

Purple Pansies Scholarship spring 2022 recipients include:

- Sydney Alexandria Blevins, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Annie Whitman Dennehy, Athens, Georgia
- Caroline Dennehy, Atlanta, Georgia
- Helena (Poppi) Florence, Decatur, Georgia
- Isabelle Frank, Dix Hills, New York
- Madeline Jacobson, Cumming, Georgia
- Julia Kalinowski, Atlanta, Georgia

“As much as we work to support much needed research to fight this brutal disease, we also believe in addressing the legacy it leaves,” said Fundora, Founder, Purple Pansies. “I know the devastation pancreatic cancer can have on your entire family unit, and our organization wants to lessen the burden for these young people and support them as they strive for a brighter tomorrow.”

The scholarship program is new for 2022, but the nonprofit has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer since 2008 when founder Maria Fundora lost her mother to the disease. Fundora turned her devastation into determination to make a difference, and immediately began holding events at her restaurant, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, to raise funds. But as her efforts increased, so did her frustration, as she still saw too many people in the community suffering. Reaching out for a bigger vision, she researched until she found Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, a nonprofit medical research institute that works on groundbreaking strategies targeting pancreatic cancer.

To date, Purple Pansies has raised more than $4 million to fund research through TGen and aid affected families. Purple Pansies believes in a practical, personal approach to tackle immediate needs in the community and strives to also help those who have exhausted treatment funding and support for loved ones in need.

Scholarship eligibility is for students who have lost an immediate family member (parent of guardian) to pancreatic cancer, or students who have a parent, guardian, grandparent, or immediate family member that has survived or is currently fighting pancreatic cancer. Applicants were selected based on essays about their experience with pancreatic cancer and how the scholarship would make a difference in their lives.

“This scholarship will be a huge help in covering college tuition, but it is also an honor and a great remembrance of my mom,” said Caroline Dennehy. “Pancreatic cancer has impacted my life so greatly and I think sometimes this branch of cancer is overlooked. I’m thankful to Purple Pansies for bringing attention to it and helping all those impacted by this disease.”

Applicants interested in the next phase should apply by Sept. 15, 2022 on https://purplepansies.org/scholarship/ for consideration.