What is the Dream Big Scholarship?
The Dream Big Scholarship is designed to award funding to senior residents in the HCA portfolio to support the cost of instruction for in-person or online classes, lessons, a workshop, membership* or program in a hobby, an area of personal growth or professional development, and of course, in any academic pursuit.

Who is eligible to apply?
Make sure these two things are true for you before you consider applying for this year’s scholarship:

1. Resident on the lease: You must be on the lease of an apartment community where HCA is a nonprofit partner. Caregivers to a resident are not eligible.
2. 55+ years old: You must be 55 years of age or older to apply for this scholarship. If you are a resident but you are 54 years or younger, check out our Academic Scholarship at our website www.hcascholarship.org.
   
   

How much are scholarship awards?
Dream Big Scholarship awards are between $100 and $1,000 per scholarship recipient.

How are scholarship awards paid out?
Payment is made directly to the company or institution providing the educational services for which the applicant is seeking funding. At no time may awards be paid out to the recipient.

What subjects does a Dream Big Scholarship award cover?
So very many! Here are some examples of past award uses by general interest area:

• Animals: service dog training and horseback riding.
• Career Change: courses to support a career as a pharmacy tech, nurse, paralegal, and therapist.
• Fine & Performing Arts: drawing, painting, pottery, jewelry-making, mosaics, quilting, ballroom dance, hip hop dance, singing, piano, violin, and flute.
• Health & Wellness: meditation, yoga, pilates, swim, and nutrition.
• Personal Development: languages, financial management, and technology (ie: Microsoft Office, social media, etc)

Where may I use a Dream Big Scholarship?
At any verifiable brick-and-mortar or online company or institution that appeals to you, provided they will work within our scholarship timeline and payment requirements.

What are your scholarship payment requirements?
Any company or institution receiving scholarship award funds on behalf of a recipient must work within these three requirements:

1. Single upfront payment by September 30, 2024: We must be able to make a single upfront payment of a scholarship recipient’s classes, lessons, workshop, membership*, or program to the company by credit card or PayPal over the phone or by website, or by paper check. We cannot make in-person payments.
2. No auto-renewals or cards kept on file: We do not permit any credit card used for payment to be kept on file for future charges and/or membership renewals at the company or institution.
3. Proof of payment provided: We must receive emailed proof of payment for any scholarship recipient’s classes, lessons, workshop, membership*, or program paid for by credit card or PayPal.
   
   

What are some examples of qualifying online learning opportunities?
For a diverse list of online platforms with learning opportunities across an array of subjects, we encourage you to review our Dream Big Online Resource Guide at www.hcascholarship.org.

What info do I need to provide about my desired learning opportunity?
In order to be considered, your application may include one or two specific visions of how and where you would apply any scholarship award funding to support learning in one area of interest. They may not be altered after submission. Please see “2. Dream Big Plans” in the response to “What does an application require?” on page 3 for further detail.

Increase your chance of funding!
In Section 2, “Dream Big Plans,” we strongly recommend that you include a second desired learning opportunity of lesser value so that if we are unable to fund your first choice, we may have the option to award funding for your second.

What award uses are outside the scope of the Dream Big Scholarship?
In order to maintain the integrity of the scholarship, there are some limits as to how awards may be used:

• PLEASE BE AWARE: We no longer fund in-person gym memberships.* While we no longer fund
  in-person gym memberships as we have in the past, we will continue to fund specific classes offered by gyms, provided that they may be paid for independently of any membership fees. You may also ask the company or institution about the possibility of putting your scholarship award on a gift card so that you may pay as you receive services.
• We do not fund the cost of supplies. If you are concerned about the cost of supplies, we encourage you to find a learning opportunity that requires none or few, or where supplies are included in the overall cost of instruction.
• We do not fund any transportation costs. If you are concerned about transit, we suggest your consideration of online learning opportunities. Keep in mind that those applicants with online aspirations may indicate interest in receiving a tablet to assist in their access to these. See section 2, “Dream Big Plans,” in the application.
  
  

How are awards determined?
We look for applicants who have followed the application directions, who have submitted a complete application, and whose application reflects a sincere effort and interest. REMEMBER: We are more interested in your ideas and reasons for seeking further education than we are with your ability to write well.

Because we cannot guarantee that applying will result in funding we strongly recommend that you include a second award use option of lesser value so that if we are unable to fund your first choice, we may have the option to award funding for your second.

What does an application require?
The Dream Big Application has four parts:

1. Contact Info: Your name, phone number, email, apartment community, and apartment number.
2. Dream Big Plans: We strongly recommend that you include a second option of lesser value so that if we are unable to fund your first choice, we may have the option to award funding for your second.
   • The subject you wish to take classes in.
   • The title of the class, lesson, workshop, membership*, or program.
   • The total cost of the class, lesson, workshop, membership*, or program.
   • The complete name and contact information for the company or institution providing
   the class, lesson, workshop, membership* or program.
3. Personal Statement: 15+ sentences (~250 words) introducing us to who you are, the learning opportunity for which you hope to receive support this year, and why that specific opportunity is important to you.
4. Creative Writing: 30+ sentences (~500 words) in response to one of the two prompts provided.
   
   

How may I submit my application?
You may submit your Dream Big Scholarship application one of two ways:

• Online: Prepare all of your responses in advance and go to www.hcascholarship.org/apply and enter or copy-paste into the form. The form does not allow you to save your work.
• Paper copy: Fill out the physical copy of this application, handwrite or type your Personal Statement and Creative Writing on separate sheets of paper, staple everything, and drop it with the manager of your property.
  
  

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
These are the three most important dates for scholarship applicants:

• MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024: APPLICATION DEADLINE All applications must be submitted online
  through our scholarship website www.hcascholarship.org or in paper form to the manager of your property on or by this day, without exception.
• MONDAY, JULY 1, 2024: DECISIONS WILL BE MAILED Announcement letters will be mailed to all applicants. Please note that issuing payment of a recipient’s scholarship award will take approximately 5-15 business days depending on the nature of payment. Plan accordingly as you time the start of any proposed scholarship award use.
• MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024: LAST DAY TO CLAIM AWARD MONEY! No funding will be issued after this date, without exception.
  
  

Have questions or need help? Reach out!
If you have a question that is not answered here or on our website www.hcascholarship.org, please contact Nena Malhotra by email at nena@hcahousing.org or by phone at 626-708-4461, Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm.

If you would like assistance with the application, you may also request an appointment. In this case, we strongly urge you to do so in advance, as we have a limited number of appointment blocks and a high volume of requests.