Alvin D. Sims Scholarship Program

Our Business

The Alvin D. Sims Scholarship (ADS) program provides fifty (50) percent of tuition to120 elementary school students 1^st-8^th grade that attend parochial and private schools in the Chicago-Land Area. 

This program supports students who have a financial need, and it is based on their academic progress.  After the first year in the program, students must maintain at least a “B” average to remain eligible. We predominately serve families on the west side of Chicago, however we do have students who either reside on the west side and attend a school in another area, or attend a school on the west side but live in another area.  Currently we partner with sixteen parochial and private schools where our scholarship recipient's attend. 

Program History

In 1989, Mr. Bob Perkins founded the Perkins  Scholarship Foundation to assist program participant student's and children of the staff at Marcy-Newberry Association, Inc (MNA) with tuition. 

Since established in 1883, MNA has provided thousands of families with social services;  a non-for-profit social service agency located predominately on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, and also assist participants that reside on the westside of Chicago, Illinois.  

Marcy-Newberry Association's Director of Programs, Alvin D. Sims, monitored and managed the foundation for 5 years.  After Mr. Sims passed in 1994, the Perkins Scholarship Foundation was renamed the Alvin D. Sims Scholarship Foundation, then later named the "Alvin D. Sims Scholarship Program (ADS)".  Ms. Jannie Jamison and Ms. Adriane Barnes monitored and managed the program until the year 2000.

In 2000, Jocquelline Kelly became the Scholarship Coordinator, and currently remains active in that positon. 

Mr. Bob Perkins and the Perkins Family continues to sponsor and manage the AlvinD. Sims Scholarship Program.  This generous family started out supporting 15 students, now 22 years later, support 120 students!  

More Of What We Do

This remarkable program sponsored by Mr. Bob Perkins, has serviced over a thousand families since 1989.  The original intention of this scholarship program was to give low income students an opportunity to experience a diverse perspective of education.   

@The ADS Scholarship Program through the Perkins Foundation, ensures that we provide the resources needed to promote positive self images in the children that we serve.  Moreover, this unique program has provided many students and their families with one of the greatest gifts one can receive “A Quality Education”.

~Jocquelline Kelly

   Scholarship Coordinator