This fund is created to honor my brother, Mark Dickey, and father, Robert Dickey, whose lifetime struggles with alcoholism and/or addiction took them from our family far too early. I have witnessed four generations of my family and others battle the effects of addiction. It has ruined lives, families, and relationships. It has prevented people from creating the beautiful, fulfilling life they deserve, a vicious cycle of fear, guilt, shame, blame, and pain…the disease keeps you captive.
I want to provide hope and betterment to those that have chosen to and made the efforts to get their life back on track. There is a better way! This fund is set up to contribute towards the further education of those who have been through a minimum of 30-day (inpatient) or 60-day (outpatient) credentialed drug and alcohol rehabilitation program and have been clean and sober for a minimum of one year, to be attested to by a healthcare professional or qualified professional.
This fund is set up to promote personal improvement and educational development in order to secure a career plan. Further education includes college, university or other educational institutions providing vocational, technical, or secondary education programs.
Up to $5,000 per year scholarship(s) depending on the requests will be awarded to a qualified person(s) that has been through the vetted application process.
Thank you for your interest and many blessings to you, Sincerely,
Founder – Dickey Educational Endowment Fund
Criteria For Selection Of Recipients
The guidelines for selection of a recipient will include the following:
- Applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old
- Applicant must have completed either a minimum of 30-day inpatient/60-day outpatient credentialed drug/alcohol rehabilitation and have been clean and sober for at least one year (both attested to by a qualified professional)
- Applicant must be attending or enrolled in a community college, college, university, technical, or vocational school
- Applicant must be a current resident of Central Oregon for a minimum of 2 years and currently reside here.
- Applicant must demonstrate financial need
- Applicant must have specific career goals
- Applicant must provide a copy of their most current tax return (or the return of a parent/guardian if applicant is claimed as a dependent)
In addition to meeting the above criteria, the applicant must also complete and submit these included forms:
- Endowment Application
- An autobiography or written essay (maximum of 3 pages)
- Include history of volunteer and/or community service activities (as applicable)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- One (1) letter from an adult family member
- Two (2) letters from unrelated adults
*Note – Applicant should carefully select who will provide these recommendations, as the more the individual knows about the applicant’s circumstances, background, challenges met, victories, etc. the greater the chance of being selected.
Application Packets may be submitted electronically.
EMAIL ELECTRONIC APPLICATION PACKETS TO: goddessbend@gmail.com
Make sure you include all required documentation, including:
- Endowment Application Form
- Autobiography/Essay
- Letters of Recommendations
- Any Supporting Documents (may be scanned)
Scholarships will be disbursed directly to the school/program once recipients have provided their student ID or account number for the school/ program they will be attending. Please provide the following: The name of the school, the relevant department, the mailing address, and the name of a contact person.
Application Packets will be accepted until May 1 2025.
You will be notified within 48 hours that we have received your Application Packet. Within 30 days you will be notified of the status of your application. Final decision will be made prior to June 1 2025.
For questions email goddessbend@gmail.com or call 707-496-3891
Prior Recipients Testimonial Dickey Educational Endowment Fund
My name is Taylor, I am a recovering drug addict with five years clean. I was addicted to heroin the first time I attended college, because of this I ended up taking large student loans and made poor choices with them. I also did not pass my classes. That was about 10 years ago.
My addiction led me to homelessness, destitution, and crime. I have multiple felonies and have been to prison. I got clean in 2018.
In 2020, I decided I wanted to go back to school. I found out that I no longer qualified for financial aid due to defaults on the old loans I had taken out. I had to pay out-of-pocket for the 1-year accounting certificate I decide to pursue. After my first term I knew what I really wanted was an Associate’s degree in IT, but I didn’t have any idea how I would be able to pay for the extra year of school that this change would require. I was already working two jobs and going to school full-time.
I could not find any scholarships that I qualified for, mostly due to my felonies, and then one night my mom sent me a link to the Dickey Educational Endowment Fund Scholarship. I had never heard of it, but I decided to apply. After I was interviewed, I was granted the scholarship! I was so grateful! I knew this was my Higher Power working in my life! No doubt about it!
I am now almost on track financially to be able to pay for my tuition for the rest of my degree! I owe a debt of gratitude to the benefactor of DEE for starting this fund and to their relatives whose memory the fund was created in. I am determined to show them that this scholarship will be put to good use in the future.
Testimonial from John
Dickey Educational Endowment Fund
I became addicted to drugs and alcohol at the age of 13. After losing my father to alcoholism I lost control of my ability to cope with life as a teenager. In my high school years, I caused damage to my family, watched as my friends passed away from overdoses and car wrecks, and struggled to stay afloat and out of jail. While I was intervened on several times as a teen I couldn’t stop. It was the only way I knew how to tolerate the chaos I felt inside of myself. It wasn’t until I came to a 12-step program with the support of my best friend that I was able to find recovery and sobriety. Through my recovery journey I became a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC-II) and completed my undergraduate at Oregon State University – Cascades. I have been counseling young adults in addiction for 10 years now and recently embarked on a licensing program and a master’s degree in counseling psychology. The Dickey Educational Endowment helped me get my start in pursuing my master’s in the Fall of 2023. I am a year in and have maintained a 4.0 GPA! I am currently in a practicum site and training as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I feel empowered and encouraged by the support of the Dickey Educational Endowment to continue my pursuit to become a licensed therapist and continue to help others in need. I recently celebrated 15 years in recovery which has been a precious gift so many do not get the chance to experience.
