United Jewish Federation of Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien is very excited to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Lilly Reiser Scholarship, which will provide $10,000 college scholarships per year for nine Jewish students from New York and Connecticut.

Awards will be decided based on a combination of both need and merit. Meaning, the winning applicants will demonstrate the potential to live up to Lilly Reiser’s example, as a person who overcame significant hardship, prized education, and became a responsible and productive citizen. The scholarship was designed for students who can benefit from the award for up to 4 years – but students already enrolled in college or graduate school will also be considered. The scholarship will provide support during 4 consecutive years, as long as satisfactory academic standards are met (awardees must maintain full-time enrollment, and a 3.0 minimum GPA at a U.S.-based accredited college or university, to be eligible for renewal).

Lilly E. Reiser (1924-2020) was born in the small town of Moravska-Ostrava in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (now the Czech Republic). Having suffered the inhumanity and indignity of forced labor and internment during the Holocaust at Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belson, Lilly was eventually liberated from Bergen-Belson by British soldiers. She emigrated to the United States in 1945 and was only able to obtain her degrees because of the generosity of various Jewish communal organizations, that provided her with the scholarships necessary to do so. 

Lilly completed her undergraduate education at Hunter College and went on to achieve a graduate degree from Columbia University's New York School of Social Work. Shou proudly served as a social worker in the New York City Public School system for over 50 years. Ever thankful for the financial support she received from the organized Jewish community, Lilly wanted to provide similar support to deserving and financially challenged students of Jewish faith.

“I can’t think of a more special way to honor Lilly’s memory, than by honoring her wishes to assist young Jews achieve their academic dreams like she did,” said Eric Ross, UJF Deputy Director.

The scholarship application period will be open through March 15, 2024. 

For more information and scholarship requirements, please visit www.ujf.org/LillyReiser. To apply, visit the Lilly Reiser Scholarship page, or contact UJF Deputy Director Eric Ross at eric@ujf.org with any questions. 

Apply today!