Nearly two decades ago, Bethany Kravitz was ready for a new chapter.
After leaving a domestic violence situation with her 4‑year‑old son, she set her sights on nursing school and a better future for her family. But as a newly single mother, Kravitz needed reliable childcare to attend classes—an expense she couldn’t afford on her own.
On the same day she was accepted into a nursing program, Kravitz learned she had been selected to receive a grant from Scholarship Opportunities for Success, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women overcome financial barriers to education. For the next three years, the organization helped cover her childcare costs, giving her the freedom to focus on her studies. Kravitz went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing and later a master’s degree in healthcare administration and management—credentials that helped her advance her career at OhioHealth.
Today, Kravitz serves as the Board President of Scholarship Opportunities for Success, supporting other women in the community through the organization she describes as life changing.
“I was at a place in my life where I didn’t really believe in myself,” said Kravitz. “To have somebody else come in and say, ‘You’ve got this. You can do this. We’re here for you.’ That was life changing for me.”
Founded in 2001 by six central Ohio women, Scholarship Opportunities for Success has helped more than 200 individuals like Kravitz who face financial hardships while pursuing their education. Unlike traditional scholarships that often only cover tuition, the organization awards grants that can be applied toward other barriers that stand in the way—such as childcare, transportation, fees, and supplies like computers and books.
PICTURED: Susan Voorhees-Murphy, Scholarships Vice President for Scholarship Opportunities for Success, congratulates scholarship recipient Brianna Swain, left, at an awards ceremony.
That flexibility is what sets the organization apart, says Board Treasurer Pat Kriss. In one instance, a grant from Scholarship Opportunities for Success helped a woman named Holly pay for testing to receive an official diagnosis of dyslexia, unlocking essential accommodations that helped her succeed academically. Holly, who once struggled in school, graduated summa cum laude from The Ohio State University and is now a licensed independent social worker.
Clare Anderson, a founding member of Scholarship Opportunities for Success and past Fundraising Vice President, says it’s stories like these that show how removing financial barriers can change the trajectory of a woman’s life.
“We are an all-volunteer organization,” said Anderson. “When people hear these stories, they’re just all in. I think that really makes them want to be a part of what we’re doing.”
Since its founding, the organization has awarded more than $1 million in grants to help women achieve their educational goals. To help expand its fundraising capacity and ensure the long-term sustainability of scholarship awards, Scholarship Opportunities for Success established an Organization Endowment Fund at The Columbus Foundation in 2009.
Over the past 25 years, Scholarship Opportunities for Success has built a network of women who lift one another up—women who, like Kravitz, pay forward the help they once received.
“It’s been so nice to share my story and give other people hope that they can do this, too,” said Kravitz.