Each year, Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Minnesota recognizes local teens who have overcome extreme adversity, including the family violence, poverty, illness, abuse, and chemical addictions to succeed in school and life. On 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.

A silent auction and reception begins at 6 pm and the dinner and a scholarship awards ceremony starts at 8 pm. Volunteers contribute their time and 600 business and community leaders, students, parents, counselors and teachers attend. Volunteers, sponsors, and staff plan and implement the event.

This year, four sponsors will provide $15,000 each. Another 40-50 businesses will buy tables, ranging in price from $1,500 to $5,000. Approximately 100 people will buy individual tickets at $100 each. Each of the four honorees will receive a $4,000 that can be used for tuition, books, fees, and room and board. Checks are written directly to the school.  CDF Minnesota also provides each recipient with a $100 clothing allowance for the night of Beat the Odds and at the event itself, each honoree can invite family, friends and school officials to share in their celebration.

The awards ceremony is the high point of the evening with an introduction by a local official, a short video highlighting the young person’s unique struggles and triumphs, their acceptance speech, and the presentation of the scholarship.

Since 1996, CDF Minnesota has made an effort to stay in touch with Beat the Odds honorees from the time they are selected until they complete their post-secondary programs and sometimes beyond. The follow-up gives the young people much needed personal support and allows CDF Minnesota to track their progress. Although some students discontinue contact, most maintain it. Some have even gone on to intern or volunteer with CDF or work in the office on a temporary basis, and many honorees from around the country have been awarded scholarships to attend leadership trainings at the CDF retreat center in Tennessee. 

For more information visit our website or contact Judy Ham at ham@cdf-mn.org or 651-855-1179 or Sybil Axner at axner@cdf-mn.org or 651-855-1172.