Tom’s Mission and Community Work

The Thomas Caulfield Veterans Remembered Scholarship was created in honor of our founder of Veteran Community Initiatives, Inc. (VCI). Since 1993, Tom has been working tirelessly to advocate for and promote initiatives that support the health and wellbeing of the military and Veteran community.

Tom provides assistance with job training, employment transition assistance, connecting Veterans to VA healthcare and benefits assistance, organizing community outreach events throughout the 14 county service area (the same coverage area as the Altoona VA Medical Center), obtaining legal assistance and services for Veterans through court systems and more–all to support the health and wellbeing of the military and Veteran community.

With a passion to serve, the ambition to lead, and the drive to get the job done, Tom’s imprint on the local community and beyond has helped increase the impact of Veteran services, needs, and awareness, always working to overcome the bureaucracy that so many Veterans face elsewhere.

Through this scholarship, VCI seeks to contribute to the development of future leaders and professionals who will make meaningful contributions to society by honoring the services of our men and women in uniform. In whatever educational endeavor that is, this scholarship’s essence is to support students who share the same passion, ambition, and drive to make the community a better place to work, live, and play in–and to always remember the importance of patriotism and civic engagement.

Service to Country and Community

Through this scholarship, VCI seeks to contribute to the development of future leaders and professionals who will make meaningful contributions to society by honoring the services of our men and women in uniform. In whatever educational endeavor that is, this scholarship’s essence is to support students who share the same passion, ambition, and drive to make the community a better place to work, live, and play in–and to always remember the importance of patriotism and civic engagement.

Requirements

The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually. Eligible applicants must either be a current member of the military, a dependent of a member of the military or a veteran, or the grandchild of a veteran.

For this scholarship, applicants must be able to submit a copy of their (or their relative’s) DD-214. This document, also referred to as discharge paper/discharge form, is essential in verifying connection to military service and type of discharge. To apply for a copy of a DD214, check with your county’s Recorder of Deeds at the courthouse, or visit https://vetrecs.archives.gov/VeteranRequest/home.html. Other requirements are listed on the application.

How to Apply

This scholarship is provided through the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (CFA). Applicants must apply through the Easy Apply Application. Applying for scholarship can take upwards of 30 to 45 minutes, but CFA makes this easier by centralizing scholarships; by applying for one, applicants are also matched with other potential scholarships through a database that keeps track of dozens more, meaning this effort is well worth the applicant’s time.

It is best practice to prepare letters of support, essays, transcripts, resumes, and other supportive documents ahead of time so the application process can be completed smoothly. It is not uncommon for record and letter requests to take several weeks.

CFA Scholarship Information: https://www.cfalleghenies.org/scholarships/

CFA Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfallegheniesscholarship 

Support the Fund

Scholarship funds enable students to pursue their dreams, while also instilling a sense of gratitude and responsibility to give back and create similar opportunities for others. In this way, scholarships benefit not only the current generation, but also serve to inspire future generations of students.

If you are interested in making contributions specifically to this fund, please visit https://www.cfalleghenies.org/fund/veterans-remembered-fund/.