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WHAT WE DO
DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS
This program is designed to provide assistance for graduating seniors seeking
post-secondary educational opportunities. Dollars for Scholars chapters
like ours help hometown students achieve their educational goals by raising
scholarship funds, establishing endowments, providing assistance with college
readiness and the financial aid process, and distributing scholarships each year.
History
The Redwood Area Orrin S. Estebo Dollars for Scholars chapter was established in 2001 by a group of parents, counselors, and others who wanted to find a way to help Redwood Valley seniors with their college expenses. Our chapter is named thanks to a generous $125,000 donation by Orrin Estebo to fund the startup of the chapter. In 2002, 16-$500 scholarships were awarded to students in the graduating class. In 2024, able to award 97 scholarships….for a total of $97,600
Board of Directors
Patrice Berry
Ally Carlson
Becky Czelovszki
Tianna Zimmer
Jill Deinken (co-Chair)
Elaine Hagen
Anne Johnson
Jackie Probst
Pam Prouty
Scott Prouty (Co-Chair)
Kristine Reinhart
Nathan Stephens
Scholarships Growth/Amounts Given
2002: 16 - $8,000.00
2003: 22 - $ 11,000.00
2004: 29 - $14,500.00
2005: 35 - $17,500.00
2006: 40 - $20,500.00
2007: 52 - $27,000.00
2008: 47 - $ 29,500.00
2009: 49 - $ 25,500.00
2010: 58 - $ 29,500.00
2011: 50 - $29,500.00
2012: 64 - $31,500.00
2013: 67 - $ 35,500.00
2014: 80 - $42,000.00
2015: 68 - $45,500.00
2016: 72 - $38,088.00
2017: 70 - $45,918.00
2018: 73 - $52,036.00
2019: 87 - $ 54,817.00
2020: 84 - $65,250.00
2021: 84 - $70,912.00
2022: 89 - $86,000.00
2023: 94 - $ 93,500.00
2024: 97 - $97,600
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TOTAL: $971,121.00
Donor Testimonial
My family has roots in the Redwood Falls area for over 100 years. My grandfather attended school in Morgan and eventually he and my grandmother settled in Redwood Falls in the 1940's where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were small business owners in the area and active in the community. My father (1965) and aunt both graduated from high school in Redwood. I frequently visited Redwood Falls during my childhood and young adult years. Though I never lived there, I always felt a strong sense of connection and affection for the community. My father shared this same affinity and he was buried there in 2016 alongside my grandparents. I did not want these losses to spell the end of my ties to the Redwood community. After some inquiring, it become quite obvious that there is something very special happening in the educational community there and the idea of honoring my father through the photography scholarship developed. My dad loved photography and cherished his roots in the community. I am so happy and honored to be a participant in supporting this amazing spirit of educational, artistic, athletic and philanthropic excellence in the Redwood community.