Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
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Chiera Family Foundation

N.I.C.K.'S Scholarships · About this organization

What you get

A scholarship toward your child's college or vocational education.

How to start

Call Louis Chiera at 954-480-8809 ext. 1021 to ask when the next scholarship form will be available. Use the detail-page checklist when preparing your child's paper application.

Good to know

  • The June 30, 2026 postmark deadline has passed. Ask Louis Chiera when your child can apply for the next academic year.
  • Explain your need on the Financial Aid Form and send sensitive tax and financial information only in the paper package.

The details, as published

B-ALL is in scope Application Window Closed

College or vocational-school scholarship for Florida residents under age 21 who were personally diagnosed with cancer before age 21 and plan to attend an accredited school in Florida.

Go to the official program ↗

What help you may get

Scholarships And Survivorship

College or vocational scholarship

Scholarship support toward an accredited Florida college, community college, university, or vocational technical school.

Amount not published

Can cover

  • college or vocational education
  • The current program page and 2026–2027 application do not publish award amounts.
  • The application asks college year and academic-year finances but does not publish renewal rules.

Check the main eligibility rules

Diagnosis

B-ALL is in scope. A survivor personally diagnosed with B-ALL before age 21 meets the published cancer-diagnosis rule.

Age

Any starting age to age 20, measured at application.

  • Applicants still in high school must wait until senior year.

Treatment status

Post Treatment, Survivorship

  • The program page describes recipients as young adults who have beaten cancer; the form asks whether treatment is complete but does not explicitly state completion as an eligibility criterion.
  • Plan to attend an accredited college or vocational school in Florida.

Financial need is required.

  • The application requires parent and applicant tax forms and detailed financial information but publishes no income cutoff.
  • Applicant must explain scholarship need and submit the financial aid form.

Where you live and where your child is treated

Where your family lives

You must live in: Legal residents of Florida.

  • Applicant must be a legal resident of Florida.

Where your child is treated

No treatment-location restriction is published.

Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
  • Accredited Florida college or vocational school — Educational destination; the separate eligibility rule requires attendance at an accredited Florida institution. — School attendance destination in Florida

How to get started

Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.

Who can start: Patient

  1. Wait for the next official scholarship application cycle before preparing a package.

Ways to apply or ask

  • Mail — The 2026 postmark deadline has passed; mail future-cycle packages only after a new application is published.

Documents to prepare

  • Signed scholarship application and checklist.
  • Physician letter on letterhead stating diagnosis, diagnosis date, and treatment length/type; do not send medical records.
  • Parents' latest two-page 1040 and applicant's latest two-page 1040 if the applicant filed; no additional tax attachments.
  • Completed financial aid form.
  • Typed personal essay or goal statement of 500 words or less.
  • Three non-family letters of recommendation addressing achievements, leadership, community service, and character.
  • Academic transcripts and conditional SAT/ACT scores and acceptance letter, plus a current photo.
  • All completed applications receive confirmation of receipt; submission does not guarantee an award.

Availability and timing

ProgramActive
ApplicationsApplication Window Closed
Funding or spaceLimited
Application windowDated · deadline Jun 30, 2026
Last checkedSep 25, 2026
  • The 2026–2027 deadline passed June 30; scholarships are limited.
  • The 2026–2027 postmark deadline has passed; late or incomplete applications are not considered.

Limitations and things to confirm

  • The 2026–2027 application window is closed.
  • Your child must be a legal Florida resident and attend an accredited Florida institution.
  • Send the sensitive tax and financial information required by the application only in the official paper package.
  • Do not send medical records.
  • Confirm next-cycle form, deadline, award amount, and renewal rules.
  • GPT Pro run58 (2026-09-25): When will the next academic-year application and deadline be posted?
  • GPT Pro run58 (2026-09-25): What are the award amount, payment recipient and renewal rules?

Official sources

Program details were last verified Sep 25, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.

Official program