Together We Rise
TZU CHI USA Subsidy Program Application
Photo by MD Duran on Unsplash
It’s been a difficult year. If you are one of the many students whose lives and educational pursuits have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we know you must be facing incredible challenges, and we hope to help.
Together We Rise is a student subsidy program launched by Tzu Chi USA to support students impacted by the pandemic. The name Together We Rise signifies that we are here for you amidst the challenges you face, and we hope that we can help you rise above the present challenges and achieve your future aspirations. While we cannot control what is ahead, together, we can find a path forward.
About the Subsidy
Tzu Chi USA has partnered with Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) in Walnut, CA for the initial phase of the Together We Rise student subsidy program. Mt. SAC students selected through the application process will receive a $3,000 subsidy to help meet their most pressing needs.
Our goal is to ensure that students receive the support they need to continue their pursuit of higher education. Upon receipt of the subsidy, the funds are completely for the students to keep and decide how to best use for their most pressing needs.
For example, a student recipient could choose to allocate the subsidy for living expenses (e.g. housing, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare), educational expenses (e.g. tuition, textbooks, school supplies), unexpected expenses (e.g. medical emergency, car repair), or otherwise.
All interested students must complete the application steps outlined under the “How to Apply” section below. Please be sure to review the eligibility criteria described in Step 1. All application components must be submitted by Monday, March 8, 2021 for consideration.
About Tzu Chi USA
Tzu Chi USA, also known as the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that offers aid in the areas of charity, medicine, education, humanistic culture, and disaster relief.
Tzu Chi USA has previously partnered with Mt. SAC and supported Mt. SAC students through the provision of food supplies with mobile food pantries, on-campus eye exams and prescription glasses, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Learn more about us here.
Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels
*Application deadline: March 8, 2021.
Step 1
Enter your school zip code for the corresponding Tzu Chi Scholars Region
HOW TO APPLY
The purpose of this application is to better understand your situational challenges and personal aspirations. Please take time to prepare the requested information and reflect on your most pressing needs to help us understand how this $1,000 subsidy would benefit you.
In preparation for submitting your application, please review the key application considerations and components listed below. We recommend that you review the eligibility criteria and prepare the specified information and documents prior to beginning your digital application.
We strongly recommend preparing and saving your responses (e.g. personal statement) and any other information you cannot easily regenerate in separate locations (e.g. Google Docs, Microsoft Word) before submitting in the digital application. This is to ensure your prepared information is not lost in the event of technical issues such as internet disconnection.
We look forward to reading your application.
Step 1
CHECK REQUIREMENTS
Please ensure you meet all of the below criteria before applying.
Note:
The current phase of the Together We Rise subsidy program is only open to students of Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) in Walnut, California.
- You have a demonstrated need for financial assistance.
- You aspire to pursue and complete a degree, certificate program, or equivalent at a higher education institution*.
- You have completed at least one academic session** at a higher education institution*.
- You are currently enrolled at or intend to enroll at a higher education institution* for the upcoming academic session**, or you are currently unable to enroll due to financial or other challenges but intend to enroll in a future academic session**.
* higher education institution: public or private non-profit college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational institution
** academic session: quarter, trimester, semester, or other measure of academic sessions
Step 2
PREPARE ACADEMIC INFORMATION
To better understand your current academic situation and future academic plans, we will ask for the following:
- Name of your current higher education institution*
- Acknowledgement that you are pursuing a degree, certificate program, or equivalent
- Acknowledgement that you have completed at least one academic session** at a higher education institution* so far
- Acknowledgement that you are currently enrolled at or intend to enroll at a higher education institution* for the upcoming academic session**, or a brief explanation if you are currently unable to enroll due to financial or other challenges but intend to enroll in a future academic session**
* higher education institution: public or private non-profit college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational institution
** academic session: quarter, trimester, semester, or other measure of academic sessions
Step 3
COLLECT FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
In order to understand and verify your financial situation, we will ask you to upload official and verifiable financial documents. Please submit one or more of the listed documents for the most recent year for which the document(s) is available to you. If you do not have any financial document(s) listed under your name, please instead submit accepted financial document(s) of a household member with whom you live.
Note:
- Financial document(s) submitted must display the name of the applicant or a household member with whom the applicant lives.
- For security purposes, please black out all Social Security Numbers (SSN) on financial document(s) submitted.
Allowable Documents
I.e. If options #1 and #2 are both not available to you, you may upload option #3. Otherwise, upload option #1 (most preferred) if available, or option #2 if option #1 is not available.
- Form W-2 and/or Form 1099 (can upload either or both)
- Form 1040 U.S. Income Tax Return, including all schedules
- Official documentation from a government agency or public program which serves as proof of financial hardship (examples below)
Examples of option #3 include:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP / CalFresh)
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Section 8 housing / public housing assistance
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Pell grants
- Head Start
- Child Care subsidies
- Other public programs for individuals and families with financial need
Step 4
PREPARE PERSONAL STATEMENT
We hope to understand where you are now and where you would like to be. And we hope that this subsidy can help you take one of your first steps on your journey to get there.
In order to understand your current situational challenges and future aspirations, we will ask you to reflect on a few short questions, as listed below. We recommend answering each question in 250 words or fewer. However, you are more than welcome to elaborate further if needed.
We recommend preparing your responses in a separate document to ensure your responses are not lost in the event of technical issues such as internet disconnection.
- How has your livelihood been impacted by COVID-19?
Briefly describe any significant changes in income, employment, and living circumstances related to this pandemic. - How would you plan to use this subsidy?
- What makes higher education important to you?
Step 5
IDENTIFY REFERENCES (Optional)
If you would like to share a reference with us to provide insight and perspective on your current circumstances, you may enter contact information for 1 reference (e.g. current/prior teacher, advisor, or counselor) who can speak to your personal hardships and commitment to higher education.
Step 6
APPLY
All set and ready to go?
Click the ‘Apply’ button below at any time to access the application form.
Application Deadline: March 8, 2021
We will notify you no later than March 22, 2021 to let you know if we have been able to select you for an interview.
Step 3
COLLEGE-BOUND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
Requirements
1. Please download the checklist to keep track of your application process.
2. A home visit or a phone interview may be required in the application process.
Take Note of Important Dates
January 25, 2021
Application Deadline
Supporting Documents Submission
Please mail your supporting documents to Tzu Chi USA regional office that has been assigned to you, indicating Attn: Tzu Chi USA Scholars Program.
Here are the Tzu Chi USA regional offices:
Please call to confirm if you have any questions.
Northwest Region
N. CA, N. NV, OR, WA, ID, MT, WY, AK
2355 Oakland Rd, San Jose, CA 95131
Tel: 408-457-6969
Fax: 408-943-8420
Midwest Region
OH, ND, SD, MN, WI, MI, NE, IA, MO, IL, IN
1430 Plainfield Rd, Darien, IL 60561
Tel: 630-963-6601
Fax: 630-960-9360
Northeast Region
NY, VT, NH, ME, MA, RI, CT
137-77 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354
Tel: 718-888-0866
Fax: 718-460-2068
National Headquarters
S. CA, S. NV, AZ, UT, NM, CO
1100 S. Valley Center Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773
Tel: 909-447-7799
Fax: 909-447-7948
Central Region
N. TX, KS, OK, AR, TN
534 W. Belt Line Rd, Richardson, TX 75080
Tel: 972-680-8869
Fax: 972-680-7732
Mid-Atlantic Region
KY, PA, WV, DE, NJ
150 Commerce Rd, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
Tel: 973-857-8666
Fax: 973-857-9555
Pacific Islands Region
HI, GU
1238 Wilhelmina Rise, Honolulu, HI 96816
Tel: 808-737-8885
Fax: 808-737-8889
Southern Region
S. TX, LA, FL, MS, AL, GA
6200 Corporate Dr, Houston, TX 77036
Tel: 713-981-8966
Fax: 713-981-9008
Greater Washington D.C. Region
DC, MD, NC, SC, VA
1516 Moorings Dr, Reston, VA 20190
Tel: 703-707-8606
Fax: 703-707-8607
