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2025 Kim Hill Scholarship
Have you or someone you know experienced childhood cancer and need help paying for education after high school?
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Please apply for the 2025 Kim Hill Scholarship offered by the Ronald McDonald House of the Philadelphia Region. Named after the daughter of former Philadelphia Eagles player Kim Hill and inspiration for the founding of the first Ronald McDonald House, this scholarship honors the educational pursuits and futures of individuals who have experienced cancer as a child.
Four (4) $5,000 scholarships are available for motivated students and will be selected via a scholarship application selection committee.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION ONLINE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PAPER APPLICATION
Am I eligible?
Scholarships will benefit survivors or current fighters of pediatric cancer who are pursuing higher education. Applicants in treatment or completed with treatment are eligible. Relatives and friends of Eagles Fly for Leukemia and the RMHC Philadelphia Scholarship Committee and board of directors are not eligible. Recipients will be selected without regard to race, religion, gender identify, sexual orientation, physical disability, ethnicity, national origin or other protected category. Additional requirements are below:
- U.S. Citizen
- Current high school senior who plans to continue education beyond high school (2-year college, 4-year college, or other professional/trade school).
- Exception: Students who have attended a community college and are transferring to a bachelor’s degree granting institution are also eligible.
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher
- Confirmation of college acceptance or enrollment in a US accredited undergraduate or graduate institution
- Current or previous pediatric cancer diagnosis
- If selected, agree to allow EFL/RMHC to share your name and picture on our website and/or social media platforms
- Not a recipient of a full tuition scholarship
- Preference is given to applicants who:
- Demonstrate financial need
- Live in or received primary treatment in the Greater Philadelphia Region; AND/OR stayed at a Ronald McDonald House in the Philadelphia Region; AND/OR attended Ronald McDonald Camp
What do I need to submit?
Application materials:
- Completed application (electronic or paper)
- (1) Doctor’s letter confirming cancer diagnosis (can be one of the two reference letters)
- (2) Letters of reference from non-family members, including one from an individual who can speak to your academic abilities
- A report card or transcript which lists GPA
- Page 1 of legal guardian/parent’s most recent tax return
- Interview, depending on the number of applicants
- (Optional) Letter from a third party (i.e., social worker or high school official) describing your financial need
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION ONLINE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PAPER APPLICATION
CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION ON BEHALF OF AN APPLICANT
How will my application be scored?
Applications will be evaluated on the following categories:
Please click here to download the rubric members of the selection committee will use.
Criteria may include but are not limited to:
- Academic Performance
- Activity Involvement and Accomplishments
- Recommendations
- Financial Need
- Personal Statements
- Personal Interviews, depending upon the number of qualified applicants
What are the deadlines?
- Applications Posted: February 15th, 2025
- Application Submission Deadline: April 15th, 2025
- Recipients Notified: May 2025
About Kim Hill
The Ronald McDonald House and Eagles Fly for Leukemia have a long history of partnership to support families facing childhood leukemia. In the 1970s, Dr. Audrey E. Evans was a pediatric oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who saw families spend night after night in the hospital while their children received life-saving medical treatment. She knew there had to be a better way, and envisioned a house where families could stay during these stressful and uncertain times.
At the same time, the Philadelphia Eagles were raising funds in support of player Fred Hill, whose daughter, Kim, was in treatment for leukemia at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Under both the leadership of Eagles owner Leonard Tose and the Hills’ neighbor Stan Lane, the team rallied behind the Hill family and Eagles Fly for Leukemia was formed to raise funds in support of leukemia research and oncology families. That first contribution was the first payment of a $1 million pledge made by Mr. Tose to support the creation of two isolation rooms on the new oncology floor at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
When Eagles’ General Manager Jimmy Murray approached St. Christopher’s about making a donation, Dr. Lawrence Naiman suggested there was an even greater need for funds resting with Dr. Evans. Mr. Murray met Dr. Evans and became a champion for her cause. He reached out to Eagles advertiser, McDonald’s, with the idea that they could offer the proceeds from their Shamrock Shake sales to benefit this new house. McDonald’s agreed, and the first Ronald McDonald House was born in Philadelphia on October 15, 1974.
The scholarship program commemorating Kim Hill, who became a survivor of pediatric cancer, has helped numerous cancer survivors pursue a college education. This scholarship aims to honor Kim and inspire the next generation cancer survivors to pursue their dreams.