Philadelphia – March 5, 2010 – In 2008, the Sapphire Fund created a scholarship in honor of local activist and business owner Tony Sparacino. The $1,000 annual award is given to a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or queer (LGBTQ) student -- or a student supportive of the LGBTQ community -- who is majoring in the arts at a Philadelphia college or university and who has a history of community service.

Sparacino was deeply involved with Philadelphia’s LGBTQ, arts and business communities. A founding member of the Sapphire Fund, he helped to shape its mission of raising funds to address health and social issues within Philadelphia’s LGBTQ, and more broadly, its HIV/AIDS communities. His passion and hard work helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The application process for this year’s scholarship is now open. Applications will be accepted until June 25, 2010. To get an application, students should visit the Sapphire Fund’s Web site at www.sapphirefund.org.

Past recipients of the scholarship include our 2008 awardee, John Davenport, a student attending the University of the Arts majoring in theatre design and our 2009 recipient D’Angelo Keyes, a jazz vocal major also attending the University of the Arts.