ALSO Youth launches enrichment scholarship for LGBTQ+ youth

ALSO Youth has created a new annual scholarship to help one LGBTQ+ young person in Sarasota or Manatee County pay for learning experiences beyond the classroom. Applications open Sept. 12 and the first recipient can receive up to $1,500.

Why it matters: - The Hon. Rick De Furia Enrichment Scholarship is designed to fund experiences that can build confidence, skills and career direction outside traditional tuition-based education. - The award targets LGBTQ+ youth ages 10 to 24 who face financial barriers to pursuing enrichment opportunities. - ALSO Youth will recognize one recipient each year as the Rick De Furia Scholar.

What happened: - ALSO Youth announced the Hon. Rick De Furia Enrichment Scholarship on Sept. 10, 2026, in Sarasota, Florida. - The scholarship honors the late Circuit Court Judge Frederick "Rick" De Furia. - Applications for the inaugural award open Sept. 12, 2026, and close Oct. 24, 2026. - The scholarship is supported by an anonymous gift.

The details: - The selected scholar can receive up to $1,500 for an approved enrichment opportunity. - Eligible uses include music lessons, creative writing workshops, art classes, leadership development, professional certifications, career exploration and similar experiences. - Applicants must be LGBTQ+ young people ages 10 to 24 who live in Sarasota or Manatee County. - Applicants also must participate regularly in ALSO Youth programming, show a financial need, and propose an experience tied to personal growth, creativity, leadership, career exploration or skill development. - Applicants must submit a personal statement, cost documentation and a reference. - Complete eligibility requirements and application materials are available at scholarship information. - ALSO Youth said about 100 young people currently take part in its programming, and hundreds more have participated in recent years.

Between the lines: - The scholarship reflects a broader definition of educational support, one that values lived experience and hands-on learning alongside academic pathways. - Judge De Furia’s career outside the courtroom, including acting and journalism, mirrors the scholarship’s emphasis on following interests that shape a young person’s future. - His work with child abuse victims, Teen Court of Sarasota and civic education gives the award a clear community-service legacy. - Annie Berkness, executive director of ALSO Youth, said De Furia believed one opportunity, mentor or experience could change a young person’s life.

What's next: - ALSO Youth will award the scholarship annually and select one new recipient each year. - The first application window runs through Oct. 24, 2026. - The organization is positioning the scholarship as a continuing tribute to De Furia’s support for young people.

The bottom line: - The new scholarship turns De Furia’s legacy into direct financial support for LGBTQ+ youth seeking growth opportunities that fall outside the classroom.