Scholarship collaboration helps families in need

This year, graduating seniors at West Orange High School whose families have been affected by cancer will be able to apply for a scholarship to offer financial assistance when enrolled in a Florida college.

It’s happening thanks to a collaboration between the West Orange Scholarship Foundation and the Jimmy Crabtree Cancer Fund, an effort JCCF President Andy Crabtree said was “at the heart” of what the cancer fund does: help families that have been touched by cancer. 

The nonprofit was created after Andy Crabtree’s brother, Jimmy Crabtree, lost his battle with carcinoid cancer on April 5, 2011. He was 42 years old, a father of two children, Jacob and Mattie, and had graduated from West Orange High School in 1987, where he met his wife, Lorie. 

“We’ve learned over the years with cancer in general that there’s usually a huge financial burden — whether it’s with medical bills or with just lack of income,” Crabtree said. “So that’s kind of our goal with this is to see if we can help a little with financial assistance to keep (students’ college careers) going.”

JCCF previously had funded a scholarship for Valencia College students but decided to shift to West Orange to be more “hyperlocal” because that’s where most of the nonprofit’s donors are located, Crabtree said. The organization converted the Valencia College scholarship into an endowment moving forward.

The two boards’ relationships overlap, so communication was easy because they all know one another, Crabtree said.

Beth Wincey, the WOSF president, recalls growing up with the Crabtrees. They lived around the corner from her grandparents. Fred Crabtree, Jimmy and Andy’s father, as well as a JCCF board member, was the first recipient of the WOSF scholarship in 1962.

“Many of us have worked with the Crabtrees over the years,” Wincey said. “So we’re excited. We want to make sure we honor their commitment to the community and to the people they have been giving to in a way they want.”

The WOSF will award and determine the amount of the scholarship, with each scholarship going toward a bachelor’s degree valued at $1,000 per semester, renewable for eight semesters and/or toward an associate’s degree valued at $500 per semester, renewable for four semesters. 

The scholarship application includes an essay prompt explaining how the student’s family has been affected by cancer, an area to list the family’s financial information, the student’s high school transcript, any extracurricular activities and two reference letters.  

Wincey, who has served as the WOSF president since 2021, said the foundation awards three to five scholarships per year on average. The total depends on the number of applicants.

While the scholarships provide financial assistance, Wincey said the foundation also works to ensure students are supported in other ways. 

“We don’t just give the kids the money and never talk to them again,” Wincey said. “We are in communication with them all through their years of going to school, that’s why we have a renewable program. We’re not a one-and-done situation.”

Majors range from biological sciences and nursing to computer sciences and aerospace engineering. Wincey said one of the current scholars is studying finance and later plans to become a CIA agent. 

With the various levels of challenging coursework, students often need more guidance, including considering hiring a tutor or speaking with the foundation about what to do next.

“Sometimes, classes aren’t as easy as you think they’re going to be,” Wincey said. 

Wincey isn’t sure how many applicants there will be for the new scholarship. She expects it to take some time for families to find out it’s being offered, she said, but the organization is grateful to help JCCF. 

Wincey has spent her whole life in West Orange and, as an alumna of West Orange High, said she values giving back to her alma mater. The significance of supporting the JCCF isn’t lost on her, either. 

“Heartwarming is not even something to touch what I can say,” Wincey said. “It’s kind of hard to describe. The fact that (JCCF) came to us is something we don’t take lightly. … I know (the Crabtrees) care about what is right and what is to be given out into the community in Jimmy’s name. I personally want to make sure that is upheld.” 

The JCCF has helped 72 families receive financial support since its inception nearly 15 years ago, with the scholarship set to serve as another way to help. While growing up, his mom and dad always were active in the community, but Crabtree explained he never pictured a life like this.

“When my brother got sick and you had told me that for the next 15 years I would be around a lot of cancer patients in hospitals talking to people, I would’ve said ‘You’re nuts,’” Crabtree said. “But for some reason, this is where God led us to do this. When you meet with the patients, that’s when you realize, ‘Alright, this is why we’re doing it.’”

According to the WOSF website, students may apply for this designated, sponsored scholarship through the standard West Orange Scholarship Foundation application process by connecting with their West Orange High School counselor.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 3.