Martin Luther King Jr. Service Scholarship

Every year, HOPE worldwide Massachusetts partners with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to honor teens in foster care who show courage, compassion, and a heart for service. The Martin Luther King Jr. Service Scholarship celebrates the idea that “anyone can be great because anyone can serve.”

Through this scholarship, we invite Massachusetts teens in DCF care to write about how being of service has shaped their lives — in their families, their communities, and within themselves. Four winners are selected each year to receive scholarships ranging from $1000 to $2000 to support their journey toward higher education.

But more than a scholarship, this program is about belonging, growth, and finding your voice.

A Story of Belonging

One past scholarship recipient shared how hard it was to feel like she belonged when she first entered foster care:

“Being placed in a foster home made me realize how different I was from the biological children of my foster parents. I felt out of place, constantly in fight or flight mode, while they could sit on the sofa and laugh at Full House.”

But over time, kindness and hope began to change her story:

“The kindness I started to notice in people’s eyes and their actions, along with the hope and inspiration that one day I could become that same beacon of light in someone else’s darkness.”

Now, she’s studying to become a clinical psychologist — using her experiences to help others heal and belong.

“Although I can’t erase my past, I’ve learned that I can control my future — and for many people, that’s all we truly have. I’m no longer living in constant fight or flight, though I won’t deny that it still surfaces at times. I remind myself to be gentle, to allow myself to grieve, and to take a long look in the mirror at how far I’ve come.”

Her journey reminds us that every person has the power to grow, to serve, and to become a light in someone else’s darkness.

Your Story Matters

Maybe you’ve had moments where you felt like you didn’t belong. Maybe you’ve met people who showed you kindness when you needed it most. Or maybe you’ve found purpose in helping others, even in small ways.

If you’ve ever felt the spark to make a difference — to serve, to give back, to grow — then this scholarship is for you.

Your story matters. Your service matters. And your future is still being written.

Take this opportunity to share your experience, your growth, and your dreams.