PFund Scholarship Program

Since 2000, PFund's Scholarship Program has awarded over $375,000 to deserving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendger, or allied students. These scholarships provide not only financial support for continuing one's education, but development leaders that are changing our schools and our state for the better.

Here are highlights of two PFund Scholars:

Antonio Cardona – 2001 Scholarship Recipient “A PFund scholarship is different than some scholarships that may just send a check and ask for transcript submissions. PFund scholarships come with involvement, community connection and opportunities to participate,” Before receiving his scholarship, Antonio was looking for a community. It was at the scholarship awards event in 2001 where he found the community he was looking for. Antonio recalls, “Coming from my hometown where I was the only gay kid and one of the few Latinos, I felt I had no place. But I saw that here, I had a place.” Receiving a PFund scholarship was more than money toward his tuition, it stood for a community of people that stood behind him, affirming who he was. PFund scholarships invest in the future leadership of GLBT communities in Minnesota, and the investment in Antonio is one that continues to grow. With his scholarship, Antonio completed a degree in International Relations and Global Studies in 2005 from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. With determination and a passion for social justice, Antonio got his start as an organizer working with the University of Minnesota’s Queer Student Cultural Center. Recognizing the importance of equality and inclusion on his campus, Antonio used his roles at the QSCC to create safer spaces for GLBT students. After college, Antonio continued his advocacy for GLBT communities as the Programs Director for Rainbow Health Initiative. In his role with Rainbow Health he worked to end high rates of tobacco use in GLBT communities. Antonio currently works as the Strategic Partnerships Manager for Pillsbury United Communities. He is responsible for overseeing fifteen charter schools that serve low-income students of color and ten new immigrant organizations. In addition to his community organizing, Antonio has successfully raised more than one million dollars for local non-profit organizations. As Antonio puts it, “My accomplishments demonstrate the tangible outcome of PFund’s initial investment. My accomplishments are not just mine, because I was built by community.”

Andrea Jenkins – 2007 Scholarship Recipient In her own words, she says “I was especially gratified to have won the PFund Nancy Kelly Award. It provided me with with a sense of responsibility and obligation to the LGBT community, but not only that it let me know that I am supported and nurtured by that same community. It connected me to other scholars at various stages in their academic careers and provided me an opportunity to mentor some of those young people. In particular there is a young man named David who attends Macalester College whom I've had lots of interaction with since we were both honored as PFund Scholars. I have been able to follow his career and just say things like "keep up the good work" and I think that helps. Additionally, the scholarship has put an additional weightiness on the work that I will ultimately produce as a poet and writer in that it will always come out of that spirit of community building.

More details about scholarships available at: http://pfundonline.org/scholarships.html