25 May 2026 ASPSF Day of Giving raises $61K as 453 single parents receive scholarships
Little Rock — Earlier this month, Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) announced that $61,000 was raised during its second annual Day of Giving, showing strong statewide support for single parents working toward a college or trade-school degree.
This fundraising effort came as ASPSF awarded $659,600 in Spring 2026 scholarships to 453 single parents, helping student parents across 69 counties stay enrolled in college or trade school while supporting their families.
Locally, ASPSF awarded the following totals in financial aid:
- Cleburne County: $2,800 to two students
- Conway County: $11,200 to eight students
- Faulkner County: $30,000 to 21 students
- Hot Spring County: $10,000 to seven students
- Jefferson County: $13,200 to seven students
- Lonoke County: $3,200 to two students
- Perry County: $1,600 to one student
- Pulaski County: $124,400 to 85 students
- Saline County: $16,800 to 12 students
“This scholarship is allowing me to work towards my dream of being a paramedic, while providing for my daughter and building a better life for us both,” said Spring 2026 recipient Barrett Brungardt of Faulkner who is enrolled at University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College.
Spring 2026 recipient Chancellor Johnson of Pulaski County shared that the scholarship helps “tremendously,” by allowing her to pay household expenses so she can focus soles on her daughter and school. Johnson is a nursing major at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and her long-term goal is to earn her master’s degree so she can be a leader in the local health care sector.
Meanwhile, Spring 2026 recipient Ericka McQueeny of Saline County shared that the single parent scholarship makes her feel seen. She is is studying for her bachelor’s in education at the University of Arkansas and currently works at works in a local school district where she started a MakerLab enrichment group where small groups engage in hands-on STEM projects such as 3D printing, circuit design, sewing bookmarks, button making, t-shirt design, and more.
“What stood out to me most about ASPSF is that it truly meets single parents where they are,” McQueeny said. “Returning to school as a single parent already means sacrificing precious time with my family. This scholarship was an immense blessing because it eased the financial burden without requiring me to give up even more of that time. I felt celebrated. I was not someone who ‘didn’t need help because they already have sources of income’ but as someone working hard to create a better future for my child and myself. That support has meant more than I can fully express.”
ASPSF scholarships are a maximum of $1,600 per semester and can be used for expenses that often stand between a single parent and graduation, including child care, transportation, housing, utilities, and school-related costs. The financial aid is paired with support services to help these nontraditional students successfully balance school, work, and parenting.
“Day of Giving showed how deeply Arkansans believe in the determination of single parents who are working to create a better future for their families,” said Jenn Morehead. “Every gift helps remove barriers that can keep a student parent from finishing school and moving into a career with family-supporting wages.”
This year’s Day of Giving exceeded the nonprofit’s $45,000 goal, and the campaign raised nearly twice as much as last year. Nearly 30 cities and counties declared March 20 as ASPSF Day of Giving, including Benton, Bryant, Cabot, Clinton, Conway, Jacksonville, Jefferson County, Little Rock, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Searcy, Sherwood, and Stuttgart.
The fundraiser coincides with National Single Parent Day and brought together donors, volunteers, community partners, and local supporters across the state to invest in the success of single parent families. For many recipients, this support means more than financial help. It means knowing someone believes in their future.
For more information, visit aspsf.org or contact Jen Lawrence at [email protected] or 501.550.6304.
About ASPSF: Statewide nonprofit ASPSF is dedicated to ending single parent poverty through higher education. Since 1990, ASPSF has awarded more than $50 million in scholarships and provided services that empower single parents to complete their education and pursue higher-paying careers. With the help of volunteers and community support, ASPSF creates multigenerational change, transforming lives for both single parents and their children. Learn more at aspsf.org.
