Started in 1998, the Alan Epstein "Reach for the Stars" Scholarship was established after Alan Epstein tragically passed away in a car accident on his way back to school at the University of Florida. Alan's parents, Cheryl and Murray Epstein, wanted to turn this tragedy into something positive. Through the Miami Community Foundation, the Epstein Family decided to create the Alan Epstein "Reach for the Stars" Scholarship, which provides financial aid to deserving graduating high school seniors to further their education. Since the Scholarship's inception, the Scholarship has helped over 250 South Florida students continue their education by decreasing the burden of tuition and school expenses. Per year, over $45,000 in scholarships are given to the brightest and most deserving students, making the Alan Epstein "Reach for the Stars" Scholarship one of the largest scholarship foundations in South Florida.
What started as a small scholarship, funded from minimal profits from the sales of jewelry created by Cheryl, grew after a fundraising event was established over Thanksgiving Weekend in Miami in 1999. The event's success has created an annual tradition, enabling the Scholarship to expand and affect the lives of countless of South Florida's brightest students.
In 2004, Murray passed away from Leukemia and in 2009, Cheryl passed away from breast cancer. They were both resilient, incredible examples to their children, Michael Epstein and Jamie Epstein Kolnick, who now carry the charitable torch and run the foundation in honor of their parents and brother.
The Reach For The Stars Foundation (RFTSF, INC.) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
“This scholarship is a way to transfer Alan’s unlimited potential to so many other gifted young student’s to help them reach for the stars in Alan’s honor.”