Education and Job Training

One Family Scholars

Wellspring House is a community partner with the One Family Scholars (OFS) program.

One Family Scholars is a comprehensive college scholarship program that breaks the cycle of poverty and family homelessness for low-income single parents. The One Family Scholars program values higher education as the surest pathway to family self-sufficiency.

One Family Scholars is a program of One Family, Inc., a not-for-profit organization founded by Paul and Phyllis Fireman and family with a mission to end family homelessness in Massachusetts. Wellspring co-founder and former executive director Nancy Schwoyer was one of the founders of the One Family Scholar’s program, and Wellspring has been a community partner since 2001.

Building Blocks for Success

Unlike traditional scholarship programs that focus solely on tuition assistance, the One Family Scholars model focuses on four building blocks for success: college success, career success, financial success, and leadership success. Our multifaceted approach positions our graduates to secure family-sustaining employment in their field.

Wellspring provides recommendations for potential OFS candidates. Once accepted, Wellspring will provide ongoing support and connection with community resources to help ensure obstacles to the student success can be overcome. Letters or emails are sent to Wellspring program graduates alerting them to the enrollment period for applications to be considered.

In order to be considered for a recommendation the student must have successfully completed one of Wellspring’s education programs. Since most scholars are juggling school, work and family, we carefully consider each applicants circumstances and look for at least one semester of college completed with a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average. All candidates must also meet One Families other criteria for application.

Are You Eligible?

An applicant to the One Family Scholars program must be:

A candidate endorsed by a partnering community organization from One Family’s network
Family income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
An entering or returning student at an accredited undergraduate institution in Massachusetts
A permanent resident of Massachusetts and a United States citizen or Resident Alien
Have a definite plan to use the desired degree to enter a family-sustaining career
Able to maintain a cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale while in the One Family Scholars program