VA Nonprofit Gives Scholarships to Children of Injured Workers

Oct 16, 2013
McDonald Injury Law

Kids Chance of Virginia is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to the children of workers who suffer job-related injuries and illnesses. A group of Virginia employers founded Kids Chance in 2011, and the organization has also established chapters in other states.

Children ages 16-25 can receive scholarships from Kids Chance Virginia to pursue academic, technical, or career training. To be eligible, a family must demonstrate financial need and a significant decline in circumstances brought about by a parent or guardian’s work-related injury or illness. Scholarship recipients also must meet certain academic standards.

Kids Chance is a great way for businesses and citizens to support families affected by work injuries and diseases. It accepts donations, recruits volunteers, and has events to raise funds for scholarships.

Other programs also help Virginia families affected by disabilities. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation sponsors the Adrian Ryan Kirk Scholarship for children with ADD, ADHD, a learning disability or other disability.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia helps children with progressive, degenerative, and chronic illnesses and disabilities. The organization has been in business since 1987 and has granted the wishes of over 3,600 disabled or sick Virginia children.

Workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability and other programs are available for injured or chronically ill workers, but even with these programs, children of injured workers may need financial assistance for higher education.

Workers’ compensation is time-limited, so workers with long-term health issues often pursue Social Security Disability benefits. However, given the long wait for a determination and the potential for a lengthy appeals process, families may struggle financially.

People with disabilities, work-related injuries, chronic illnesses, and other debilitating conditions can receive help from the government, but it is not always easy to find and access resources. The Richmond personal injury and disability benefits attorneys at Geoff McDonald and Associates are compassionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated to serving clients with Social Security Disability claims, workers’ compensation cases, and other legal matters related to disabilities.