THE HOLZHAUER EDUCATION FUND HISTORY

Some 22 years ago, the volunteers at the Oconee County Habitat recognized the need for higher education opportunities for the Habitat homeowners and their families.  The hope was and continues to be that the cycle of poverty can best be broken by taking advantage of higher education opportunities available at the universities and community colleges in the surrounding area.  Through education, homeowners and family members could have greater opportunities and job security as well as a greater likelihood of maintaining their standard of living.

The first such effort was started in 2002 as the Bootstrap Scholarship Program.  It was funded by a generous donation from Lynne and Jack Williams who not only established the fund but also administered it according to established guidelines.  The fund lasted for nearly a decade and provided many children of OCHFH homes the opportunity to seek higher education.

As the Bootstrap Scholarship program wound down, the volunteers at OCHFH decided to seek funding for renewing the program under the administration of the board and make it a permanent and unique part of Oconee County Habitat.  To that end, the board established on February 7th, 2011, the Holzhauer Education Fund in honor of long-term dedicated volunteers Bill and Grace Holzhauer.  The Holzhauer philosophy was simple:

“If we can provide better facilities for children to have a study opportunity, without too many people in one room and no quiet space, maybe they’ll get better grades and a better education.”  Bill says.  “And maybe in 20 years we won’t have to build for them.  That’s really to my mind, the bottom line.  I want to create a group of kids who don’t need us.”

The initial funding was just over $6,000 and came from two fund raisers: “Swing time” in the Springtime”, a jazz concert, and the Homebuilders Association of Oconee County golf tournament held for the benefit of Habitat.  At the same time, the parameters of the new fund were broadened to include any post high school educational opportunities, and applications were simplified so that the program could be made available to any homeowner or family member provided they were current on their mortgage payments.   The initial stipend was $400 per semester or quarter.

The response to the program quickly identified the need for additional funding and an increase in the stipend amount as the cost of higher education increased.  Therefore, going forward, donations made by individuals or corporations could be dedicated to the HEF as well as the general restricted and non-restricted funds.  In 2021 a tab was established on the OCHFH website to allow donors the opportunity online to donate directly to HEF by credit card or PayPal.

Today the fund stands at just over $32,000 thanks to donations and matching funds from donor employers; and the stipend has increased to $1,200 per semester or $100 per credit hour or equivalent.  Since 2011, dozens of students from Habitat homes have received grants from the HEF that total more than $167,970, and the average grant has grown from $400 to $1200 in 2023.