Harrisburg, Pa. – Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc.’s unique mostly employee supported Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education will begin awarding larger scholarships to program participants and their parents/guardians.

In its May meeting, the YAP® Endowment Board voted that beginning July 1, the annual scholarship dollar amount will increase from $1,200 a year to $1,500.

“In keeping up with the rising cost of college and trade school tuition, laptops and other fees, the YAP Endowment Board felt the need to advance the scholarship amount for program participants and their families,” said Patty Rosati, YAP® Endowment Board President and Chief Impact Officer. “I am happy that we are able to do this and we hope that it eases some of the financial burden for our program participants and their families who are seeking to better their futures.”

YAP® partners with public systems in 33 states and Washington, D.C. to provide community-based wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to placing young people in trouble or crisis in corrections and residential care facilities. Celebrating its 50th year in 2025, YAP® partners with public systems to provide community-based wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to residential care or corrections. 

“The Endowment Fund is proud to be able to increase the scholarship amount,” said Shannon Grove, YAP® Endowment Board Member and Controller. “We have been able to support some amazing youth and adults who have shared their stories with us on their applications. It truly is inspiring to read about them.”

Named for YAP®’s founder, the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund scholarship provides support for college tuition, job training, continuing education and fees or a laptop computer to eligible current and former program participants, along with their parents/guardians, who can apply for the scholarship annually. The Endowment Fund started in 2004 but awarded its first scholarship in fiscal year 2008. To date, over 490 scholarships have been awarded since inception and 41 and counting have been given in 2025. Although mainly funded through YAP® employee donations; the Endowment Fund is also supported by YAP® Board of Directors and other contributors.

In addition to four year institutions and community colleges, past scholarships have provided tuition for program participants to attend clown school, technical, cosmetology, automotive/truck driving school and other educational career pathways.

Some of this year’s recipients includes Emile and her mother Katelin who are both attending Kirtland Community College in Michigan, as well as Najah from New Jersey who finished up her freshman year at Saint Elizabeth University College.

Guided by the nonprofit’s “no reject, no eject” policy, YAP®’s decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements. John Jay College of Criminal Justice research found 86% of YAP’s youth justice participants remain arrest-free, and six – 12 months after completing the program, nearly 90% of the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement.

To read more about YAP® Endowment Fund recipients, visit theneighborhoodadvocate.org. To donate to the Endowment fund, click here. For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org.