The Palumbo Family Foundation, based in Hillside, Illinois, awards college scholarships to graduating high school seniors, GED holders, current undergraduates (two- or four-year), and vocational/trade school students who have lived at least six months in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, or Will County. Applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA and an annual adjusted gross family income of $65,500 or less; finalists must document income with a 1040 federal tax return (an IRS tax account transcript is not accepted). The application is submitted via Google Forms between January 1 and March 31 and requires a personal essay on one of five Common App prompts plus an activities resume. Finalists supply two or more references (from a teacher, coach, religious organization, or community-service supervisor) and interview on a designated Saturday in May or June. The Foundation's board sets each recipient's award amount individually, notifies recipients by mail no later than July 1, and pays the award directly to the recipient's college by August 31.
Eligibility
DemographicsMust have lived at least 6 months in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, or Will County, Illinois; open to high school seniors, GED holders, current undergrads, and vocational/trade students in those counties only.
Applying
The Foundation's board sets each recipient's award individually and pays it directly to the college by August 31; no fixed public amount.