Founded in 1990, the Beat the Odds program has awarded hundreds of scholarships to high school students who have overcome tremendous adversity in their lives and gone on to achieve academic excellence and give back to their communities.
Related Initiatives
Stories
Randa
Randa, was 18 when she arrived in the U.S. alone from Yemen. Despite several hurdles, she took classes at night and on weekends to graduate from Lee high school in 3 years. Read more
Stories
Feefelobari
Feefelobari is a Nigerian civil war refugee. With perseverance and determination she is thriving, graduating in the top 5% of her class and contributing extensive community service. Read more
Stories
Rudy
Rudy was born in the U.S. but grew up in Mexico where he attended a very poor school that provided next to no education. Rudy compensated by reading huge amounts of information independently to teach himself years' worth of material in less than one month. Read more
Stories
Yahir
Yahir has overcome the trauma and personal insecurity of coping with a physical handicap. Read more
Stories
Paul
Paul lives with a significant learning disability that he has struggled to overcome through hard work and sheer determination. Read more
Stories
Kapria Lee
Kapria Lee says that her life has taught her that nothing is impossible. Read more
Stories
Nakea Paige
Nakea Paige went from being an angry, insecure child to a self determined, well-educated, beautiful young woman. Read more
Stories
Nathan Cabrera
Nathan Cabrera has never really had a childhood—he’s had to be mature and responsible almost his entire life. Read more
Stories
Michael Roberts
When Michael left school each afternoon, he often didn’t know where he was going to sleep that night. Despite the difficult home environment, Michael has excelled both in the classroom and as a top athlete. Read more
Stories
Rebecca Parish
Most children grow up being taken care of by their parents, but for Rebecca, it’s been the other way around. Read more
Stories
Crystal Ramirez
Thanks to dedicated teachers and her own inner strength, Crystal has excellent grades and—even more importantly—a better life. Read more
Stories
Kia Lor
Kia Lor was forced to grow up more quickly than most children. Despite having to study English as a Second Language until 7th grade, Kia is now near the top of her class with a 3.6 GPA. Read more
Stories
Cinthia
Cinthia grew up in extreme poverty, often going to bed cold and hungry, but excelled in advanced placement classes in school and is in the top 10% of her graduating class. Read more
Stories
Edwin Rosas
Chaos and upheaval have always been a part Edwin’s life. Edwin says all the adversity has made him stronger and more appreciative of what he has. Read more
Stories
Max Wirt
Max Wirt has been beating the odds since the day he was born. Through it all Max has stayed involved. He has sung in his church choir since age 5, and volunteers at the church’s summer camp each year. Read more
Stories
Na Eng
A former Beat the Odds scholarship winner becomes an Emmy® award-winning television producer. Read more
Stories
Kristopher Stith
Instead of following the path into crime and delinquency, he prides himself on his education, art and work as a staff member at a local youth leadership program. Read more
Stories
Keagoé Stith
A community activist, Keagoe is using his education, artistic abilities and youth leadership training to empower his neighbors and teach his peers about the value of education and hard work. Read more
Stories
Jin Shin
Jin has overcome some of the most difficult challenges a child can face, but has risen above the pain and is now a survivor looking forward to a bright future. Read more
Stories
Rose Stefany Quispe
In three short years Rose has achieved more than most high school students: she moved to the U.S., learned English and has been accepted to an early college summer program for writing. Read more
Events
Los Angeles Beat the Odds® Awards 2009
December 3, 2009 - December 3, 2009This heartfelt event at the Beverly Hills Hotel will introduce you to five incredible Los Angeles area high school students who are being honored for their personal hard work, academic excellence and perseverance despite the tremendous obstacles they face in their daily lives. More Information
Beat the Odds® Program
Learn more about Beat the Odds programs in:
Support Extraordinary Students - Attend a Beat the Odds Awards Event!
CDF is proud to host two Beat the Odds Awards events this Fall. You can help support the outstanding high school students by attending one of these events. Not only will this awards event celebrate the scholarship recipients and their accomplishments, but by publicly honoring these young people who have persevered through tremendous adversity provides positive role models for youths in similar situations. Additionally, Beat the Odds events demonstrate that behind each successful child is at least one caring adult and inspires community leaders and citizens who want to help children struggling to overcome adversity. Learn more about events in California, Washington, DC and New York.
CDF-Texas Beat the Odds Awards Dinner 2009
On April 22, CDF-Texas hosted its 10th Annual Beat the Odds awards dinner in Houston to recognize six extraordinary high school seniors who have overcome tremendous adversity to succeed in school and in life. Each student received a college scholarship, as well as roundtrip airfare from Continental, clothing from Macy's, a Fossil watch and laptop computer. Learn more about the scholarship recipients and about the CDF-Texas Beat the Odds program.
CDF-Minnesota Beat the Odds Awards Dinner 2009
CDF-Minnesota celebrated four deserving Twin Cities young people at the 2009 Beat the Odds Awards Dinner in March. The four—Max Wirt, Michael Roberts, Kia Lor, and Edwin Rosas—each one told their inspiring stories and received their awards from Mayors R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis, and Chris Coleman of St. Paul. CDF President Marian Wright Edelman gave the keynote address and Minnesota Public Radio personality Kerri Miller was emcee of the event. View a slideshow of photos from the event and read these scholarship recipients' extraordinary stories.
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