"<\/div> MINNEAPOLIS<\/span>, May 20, 2021<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ --\u00a0A record fundraising total of more than $905,000<\/span> was raised as part of Scholarship America's annual Dreams to Success event held last week to support the Dream Award scholarship program and broaden support for students. For the second consecutive year, Scholarship America<\/a> \u2014 the nation's largest private scholarship provider \u2014 held its annual national event online due to Covid-19. The virtual event<\/a> honored 22 exceptional Scholarship America Dream Award recipients<\/a> \u2014 students with financial need who have overcome significant barriers to make it to college. <\/p> \"We are deeply thankful to our generous sponsors and donors who supported these students even in the face of the pandemic, stepping up even more to help us surpass last year's record-breaking fundraising total,\" said Robert C. Ballard<\/span>, president and CEO of Scholarship America. \"Each of our amazing scholarship recipients have experienced a challenging life journey, overcoming major hardships, financial need, and setbacks in their pursuit of a college education.\"\u00a0<\/p>\nThe event honored AbbVie, Herman Miller Cares, and Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole<\/span>, chair and seventh president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the Scholarship America Lifetime Achievement Honoree for leadership and excellence in education. Dr. Cole was introduced by Stacey Abrams<\/span>, politician, lawyer, voting rights activist and author who attended Spelman College<\/span> during Dr. Cole's tenure as president. <\/p>\nThe program also paid tribute to J. Barry Griswell<\/span>, former chair of the Scholarship America Board, co-chair of Dreams to Success, and devoted advocate for students.<\/p>\nThe event featured performances by America's Got Talent Golden Buzzer Winner Mandy Harvey; inspiring stories from Dream Award scholars Luis Loza<\/span> and Michelle Nguyen<\/span>; and was emceed by MSNBC anchor, author and filmmaker Richard Lui<\/span> \u2014 himself a first-generation college graduate and scholarship recipient.\u00a0<\/p>\nPast Dream Award\u00a0recipients have achieved their education and career goals by becoming doctors, nurses, health educators, psychologists, radiology technicians, teachers, neuroscientists, biologists, sociologists, human development professionals, engineers, political scientists and organizational behavior specialists. <\/p>\nLearn more about Scholarship America Dreams to Success at<\/br>https:\/\/scholarshipamerica.org\/news-events\/dreams-to-success\/<\/a> and visit https:\/\/donations.scholarshipamerica.org<\/a> to give.<\/p>\nContact:<\/br>Joan Cronson<\/span><\/br>952.830.7308<\/br>310384@email4pr.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p> \n<\/div>\n<\/img> View original content to download multimedia:http:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/scholarship-america-raises-record-breaking-905-000-for-deserving-students-during-dreams-to-success-event-301295911.html<\/a><\/p>\nSOURCE Scholarship America<\/p>\n<\/img> "