ASPSF Day of Giving raises $61K as 453 Single Parents Receive Spring Scholarship

04f33d49-7fa7-420f-a9b9-b8818dc4eaaa — Julisha Mejia (left) of Scott County celebrates her Spring 2025 ASPSF scholarship with Program Manager Christi Brown in Fort Smith last March. She also received a Spring 2026 scholarship and is studying criminal justice at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. She shared: “Because of this scholarship, I am able to pursue a college degree and create a better career path for my daughter. As a first-generation student, college never felt like an option growing up due to financial limitations. This support has given me the opportunity to continue my education and the confidence to believe that success is possible, not out of reach.” (Photo Courtesy Photos With Lyric)

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) raised $61,000 during its second annual Day of Giving on March 20, showing strong statewide support for single parents working toward a college degree.

This fundraising effort came as ASPSF awarded $659,600 in Spring 2026 scholarships to 453 single parents, helping student parents across 69 counties stay enrolled in college or trade school while supporting their families.

In the River Valley area, ASPSF awarded:

• $3,200 to two students in Scott County

• $6,000 to four students in Logan County

• $10,000 to seven students in Crawford County

• $35,200 to 25 students in Sebastian County

ASPSF scholarships can be used for expenses that often stand between a single parent and graduation, including child care, transportation, housing, utilities, and school-related costs. Thefinancial aid is paired with support services to help these nontraditional students successfully balance school, work, and parenting.

“Day of Giving showed how deeply Arkansans believe in the determination of single parents who are working to create a better future for their families,” said Jenn Morehead. “Every gift helps remove barriers that can keep a student parent from finishing school and moving into a career with family-supporting wages.”

This year’s Day of Giving exceeded the nonprofit’s $45,000 goal, and the campaign raised nearly twice as much as last year.

The fundraiser coincides with National Single Parent Day and brought together donors, volunteers, community partners, and local supporters across the state to invest in the success of single parent families. For many recipients, this support means more than financial help. It means knowing someone believes in their future.

For more information, visit aspsf.org or contact Jen Lawrence at [email protected] or 501.550.6304.

About Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund: Statewide nonprofit Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) is dedicated to ending single parent poverty through higher education. Since 1990, ASPSF has awarded more than $50 million in scholarships and provided services that empower single parents to complete their education and pursue higher-paying careers. With the help of volunteers and community support, ASPSF creates multigenerational change, transforming lives for both single parents and their children. Learn more at aspsf.org.