The Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund's 2007-2008 campaign is well underway and to date, we have raised approximately $54,000 versus $49,000 raised at this same time last year. Donations are up, but with the record high number of 2008 graduating students, donations are more crucial than ever just to maintain the level of assistance our students deserve.

Each year the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund (BRSAF) is able to cover just about one-half of the graduates' total unmet need by making grants in the vicinity of $175,000 to $180,000. The BRSAF Trustees' long-range goal is to double both the Endowment and the Annual Fund so that we can cover 100 percent of the unmet need.

The Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund is a local, non-profit organization run by a board of volunteer directors whose purpose is to raise money and award scholarship grants to BRHS graduates for post-secondary education, including two- or four-year college, trade or technical school, or graduate school. Awards are based on financial need and directly benefit the students. No one who is eligible is denied funding and all awards are confidential. Funding for the awards comes from a portion of the endowment and the proceeds of the annual fund drive.

It's not too late to help benefit our community's greatest resource and investment - its young people! If you have not already done so, you may send your tax deductible contributions to BRSAF, P.O. Box 293, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.