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
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
Nakea Paige
Nakea Paige went from being an angry, insecure child to a self determined, well-educated, beautiful young woman. 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
Kapria Lee
Kapria Lee says that her life has taught her that nothing is impossible. 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
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
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
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
CDF-Minnesota Beat the Odds® Awards Dinner 2010
March 12, 2010 - March 12, 2010On Friday, March 12, 2010 CDF Minnesota will host its eighteenth annual Beat the Odds awards dinner and celebration by honoring four more deserving high school seniors with a $4,000 college scholarship. 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 Beat the Odds Awards events throughout the year. You can help support outstanding high school students by attending one of these events. Not only do these awards events celebrate the scholarship recipients and 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, D.C., Texas, Minnesota, and New York.
CDF's National Office Beat the Odds Awards Dinner 2009
On November 10, CDF hosted its annual Beat the Odds awards dinner in Washington, D.C. to recognize five extraordinary high school seniors who have overcome major obstacles to succeed in school and in life. Each student received a college scholarship, clothing from Macy's and a laptop computer. Learn more about the scholarship recipients and about the Beat the Odds program.
Los Angeles, CA Beat the Odds Awards 2009
The awards dinner on December 3 introduced five incredible Los Angeles area high school students – Erick, Jonathan, Tracey, Tyree, and Maria – whose inspirational stories made the Los Angeles Beat the Odds Awards program one of the most genuinely moving events in Los Angeles. These "star" young people were honored for their personal hard work, academic excellence, community service, and perseverance despite the tremendous obstacles they faced in their daily lives.
CDF-New York 2009 Beat the Odds Awards Breakfast
CDF President Marian Wright Edelman helped honor four extraordinary New York City high school students at CDF-New York’s Beat the Odds Awards Breakfast. Held on November 17, the special awards ceremony celebrated these remarkable young people for achieving academic excellence and demonstrating the determination to "beat the odds." Along with honoring the students for their struggles to improve their own lives as well as the lives of others, the event also recognized the families, friends, teachers and counselors who have helped them succeed.
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