The inception of KSA, the King Solomon Award Scholarship
The King Solomon Award Scholarship (KSA), also known as the KSA Scholarship, is a prestigious financial scholarship program that has been empowering high school students and freshmen at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) since its inception in 2009. Initially funded through Kameleon Enterprises and later through The FORT brand, the KSA Scholarship has been instrumental in facilitating access to higher education for underserved students.
Since its establishment, the KSA Scholarship has awarded over $175,000.00 USD in scholarship funds, with a commitment to furthering its impact. The mission of the KSA Scholarship is rooted in the vision of creating a world where all children have equitable access to higher education. As of 2023, the program’s goal is to annually donate $1 million in scholarship funds, with a specific focus on supporting underserved students and HBCUs by 2032.
To achieve this ambitious goal and expand its reach, the KSA Scholarship implemented strategic initiatives. Starting from the beginning of 2020, the program pledged to donate $1 USD for every case of trash liners sold, effectively leveraging business revenue to fuel educational opportunities. Additionally, as of July 1st, 2023, The FORT brand committed to allocating $0.25 for every Welcome Kit sold towards the scholarship fund, further reinforcing its dedication to fostering access to education.
As of the 2023-2024 Scholarship year, FORT International has awarded $50,000 to 21 winners!
One distinguishing aspect of the KSA Scholarship is its holistic approach to addressing educational disparities. While the program primarily assists high school seniors in pursuing higher education, it also earmarks a portion of its funds to support freshmen at HBCUs. This allocation aims to mitigate “stop out” rates caused by financial hardships, recognizing the complex educational challenges faced by marginalized communities.
The KSA Scholarship underscores the profound impact that businesses can have on society. The FORT team takes immense pride in the transformative role they play in the communities they serve through the KSA Scholarship, epitomizing their commitment to social responsibility and educational equity.
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