Scholarship Program
Make a DonationScholarships are a Lynchpin to Our Mission
The MIWC has a long, successful history of providing financial support to resident high school seniors through its college scholarship program which is funded by the Marco Island Woman’s Club Foundation.
The Foundation was formed in 1988, thanks to a $100,000 donation from Club member Signe Gleich. In 2011, former MIWC member Verne Cabooris left a sizable donation to the Club for educational purposes. In 2022, the estate of Evelyn McDowell, a past Club President and long-time member of the Scholarship Committee, bequeathed a substantial donation to the Foundation. The generosity of these three members, as well as subscriptions and gifts from donors that are earmarked for educational purposes, and an annual donation to the Foundation from the Club’s net fundraising proceeds, allow the Club to annually award a number of college scholarships to promising Marco Island students.
The Foundation is an irrevocable trust, managed by a Trustee, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida.
The Club awards renewable scholarships that range from $1,000 to $24,000 to both young women and men. The Verne Cabooris $20,000 scholarship and the Evelyn McDowell $24,000 scholarship are awarded over four years. Scholarship awards are paid directly to the college or university in yearly installments. Since 1989, the Club has awarded approximately $700,000 to more than 200 recipients!
MIWC Foundation Scholarship application forms and instructions are posted each October on the Scholarship Connector at www.swflscholarships.org.
In 2021 the Club’s Charitable Foundation established a second scholarship program to fund “tribute” scholarships in honor of individuals and organizations that have furthered the Club’s mission through their patronage. To date the Club has awarded $13,000 to six recipients.
For more information or if you have questions on our scholarship program, contact your high school guidance counselor or the Club’s Education Committee at MIWCEL@gmail.com.
If you are interested in making the Marco Island Woman’s Club Foundation a benefactor in your estate planning, please contact a board member.
What Our Scholarships Mean to Recipients
Perhaps the best way to express the impact of the Marco Island Woman’s Club Scholarship Program is through the words of the recipients. Click on the links below to view videos from recent recipients.
“I want to thank the MIWC for giving me the opportunity to have a college degree.” -Enrique Vizcaya
Becoming a scholar
To be considered for a Marco Island Woman’s Club Foundation Scholarship, you must be a legal resident living on Marco Island, maintain at least a 2.5 GPA per semester in college, and successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. Please see below for more information and the application.