Our History
The Black Canadian Scholarship Fund ( BCSF) was founded on May 1, 1996 when Dr. Horace Alexis, a family physician, donated the initial capital of $5000. Together with Pat Holas, he signed an agreement with the Ottawa Community Foundation and started the Donors Committee whose original members included David Lane and Yvonne Harper.
The role of the Donors Committee is to conduct fund-raising activities. The money raised is invested by the Ottawa Community Foundation and, from the returns, scholarships /bursaries are awarded to high school students who meet specific criteria and are admitted or admissible to a Canadian university.
Our record is impressive.
Up to 2011, we had awarded scholarships/bursaries totalling over $150, 000 to 25 students who have either completed or are currently pursuing undergraduate studies at Ontario and Quebec universities; their range is broad as indicated here—Biochemistry, Engineering, Information Technology, Physiology, Journalism, Criminology and Law.
To mark its Tenth Anniversary in 2006, the Black Canadian Scholarship Fund established a Founders Award in recognition of the efforts of those who had been pioneers in setting up the Fund. This honour is conferred on the candidate who obtains the highest standing among the recipients in any given year.
We have proven that small
can be big.
With its core volunteers, the BCSF currently raises funds through:
- Walk-a-thon
- Night at the Races
- Golf Tournament
- Christmas dinner/dance
- Private dinners
- Silent Auctions