Role in the Funding Ecosystem
The Cmolik Foundation is a registered Canadian non-profit charitable foundation that plays a significant role in supporting educational access for youth in British Columbia. Founded in 2008 by Russ Cmolik, the foundation is rooted in a profound belief in the power of education to transform and empower young people who have faced adversity.
Funding Programs
The foundation offers multiple scholarship streams: Undergraduate Scholarships (up to 20 awards of $45,000-$60,000 paid over five years of study), Graduate Scholarships ($30,000 awards for alumni pursuing Masters or PhD programs), and the Expanding Horizons program providing field trips and summer camps for elementary students in Surrey, BC. The Tuition Passport program offers mini-scholarships redeemable upon post-secondary enrollment.
General Evaluation Criteria
Applicants must be BC residents who have lived in Canada for at least 7 years, demonstrate financial need (family income under $80,000), have faced adversity, and show academic suitability. The selection committee considers resilience, work ethic, community contributions, educational goals, and commitment.
Transparency and Governance
The foundation publishes impact statistics showing 100 Cmolik Scholars currently funded, $860,000 granted in 2020 alone, and over $8,000,000 in total scholarships. The application process requires school principal endorsement and references.