At The Freda Veronica Riley Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Inc., we believe that improving the lives of individuals with cerebral palsy requires investing in the next generation of clinical experts. Freda’s life was defined by outliving medical expectations and impacting everyone around her with her radiant spirit. To honor that legacy, our foundation looks to the future by supporting the exceptionally dedicated students who will help others rewrite their own possibilities.
The Legacy Scholarship is funded directly by our annual Steps for Freda Memorial Walk and community donors. This graduate-level scholarship is awarded to students pursuing advanced degrees in aligning rehabilitation fields who demonstrate a profound commitment to enhancing the mobility, communication, and overall quality of life for individuals living with cerebral palsy.
To be eligible for The Legacy Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria at the time of application:
Academic Level: Must be currently enrolled, or accepted into, an accredited graduate-level program (Master’s or Doctorate).
Aligning Fields of Study: Enrollment must be in a degree program directly preparing the student for a career in rehabilitation sciences and therapeutic care, including:
Physical Therapy (PT)
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
Rehabilitation Sciences
Academic Standing: Maintenance of a strong cumulative GPA (typically 3.0 or higher) in their undergraduate or current graduate coursework.
Mission Alignment: A demonstrated passion for serving the disability community, with a specific interest or stated career goal of working with individuals diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
To be considered for the upcoming academic cycle, applicants must compile and submit an application package consisting of the following items:
An online portal submission detailing your contact information, current academic institution, and degree tract.
Up-to-date transcripts from your current graduate institution (or undergraduate transcripts if you are an incoming first-year graduate student).
A personal statement addressing the following prompts:
What inspired you to pursue a career in the rehabilitation sciences?
How do you plan to use your future clinical practice to improve the lives, independence, and dignity of individuals living with cerebral palsy?
Freda Riley met every challenge with a radiant smile and left a lasting impact on her community. How do you embody a similar spirit of resilience and dedication in your academic or volunteer work?
Two professional or academic letters of recommendation (at least one must be from a faculty member, clinical supervisor, or licensed therapist in your field) certifying your aptitude and character.
Applications Open: May 1, 2027
Application Deadline: May 31, 2027
Recipient Announcement: June 2027 (with formal recognition celebrated during our foundation updates)
Our scholarship selection committee reviews all application packages anonymously based on academic merit, clinical passion, strength of the personal essay, and dedication to the advancement of cerebral palsy care.
Have questions regarding prerequisites, document formatting, or corporate/academic matching funds? Reach out to our scholarship committee directly at scholarships@fredaslight.org.