FOZA Scholarship for
 Awareness of Maternal Suicide

Friends of Zayne Adams -aka- FOZA, Inc. is committed to supporting children who are left behind. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who has lost a mother due to a maternal suicide related to postpartum depression. Suicide related to maternal mental illness typically occurs during late pregnacy and up to a year after child birth. 

FOZA is seeking to award Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students in the United States who are attending an accredited four-year institution, two-year community college or trade school. All majors are welcome! Award funds will be disbursed during the indicated academic year. 

Annual Consideration Cut-Off Date
December 1, 2025
(Applications are accepted continuously. The review process for the upcoming award cycle starts on November 1. )

AWARD DATE
01/ 02, 2026

PROVIDER
Friends of Zayne Adams, aka FOZA, Inc.

INDIVIDUAL AWARD
$1,000

MINIMUM GPA
2.5

ETHNICITIES
African American/Black, American Indian - Alaska Native, Hispanic American

RESIDENCY STATUS
U.S. Citizen

COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES/Trade Schools
4-Year Colleges, 2-Year Colleges Community Colleges, Accredited Trade Schools
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ACADEMIC CLASSIFICATION
Undergraduate

We understand the sensitive nature of this Award.
Award winners must agree to have their name, story, essay excerpts and photo/video posted on the FOZA Website and supporting platforms. We ask this in order to stop the silence, the stigma, the suffering and suicides that can accompany Postpartum Depression. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Has lost a mother due to a maternal suicide. (Suicide from PPD or maternal mental illness typically occurs during pregnancy and up to a year after childbirth.)
• Be African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latinx, or Native American/Indigenous.
• Be a US citizen or a permanent US resident. 
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be classified as a graduating high school senior, or college freshman, sophomore, or junior in the upcoming academic year. 
• Be acceptable to confirm the circumstances of their mother's death. 
• Will submit a 500-word essay “Why Community Service Is Important to Me.”

Application Requirements

• An official current academic transcript.
• Confirmation of death by suicide
• A one-page essay, “Why Community Service Is Important to Me.”
• Indigenous applicants should state tribal affiliation with their application. 

Additional Scholarship Information

• FOZA Inc. will contact the potential award recipient via the email address submitted by the applicant to verify their eligibility.
• No sensitive information is requested on the application; however, a personal interview and detailed information will be required.
• Any documents required from the applicant will be kept secure and destroyed after the award is presented.
• ​Please see our privacy policy. 

Applicants who do not meet all the listed eligibility and application requirements should not apply.

• Documentation will be accepted via email in the form of a Doc or PDF file.
• Unless specified above, scholarship funds will be disbursed as a direct deposit to the recipient’s educational institution.
• Scholarship decisions will be emailed to all applicants within 12 weeks of the review. Questions about this scholarship that have not been answered above may be submitted to FOZA at [email protected]
• The application does not "Save" information. It is recommended that you read over the requirements and be prepared to complete the application once you have started. 

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Your support helps fund our annual scholarship program, which provides financial aid to students who have lost a mother due to postpartum depression suicide. By contributing, you invest in their future and honor the memory of their loved ones.