History

In 1984, two visionaries, Marjorie Marugg-Wolfe and Ralph Nesson, set out on a mission to be the guiding light for single parents struggling to make ends meet. Armed with a humble sum of $3,450 in scholarships, the Single Parent Scholarship Funds of Benton County and Washington County breathed life into fifteen families during that inaugural semester.

The proven success of our programs in Northwest Arkansas led to the creation of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund affiliate system, now serving most counties across the state.

Community volunteers are at the heart of our success. Recognizing this strength, President George W. Bush presented our co-founder Marjorie Marugg-Wolfe with the annual Point of Light President’s Community Service Award in 2001. This award is the nation’s highest honor for community volunteers.

In 2021, Single Parent Scholarship Funds of Benton County and Northwest Arkansas combined efforts. Our united organization, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA, now serves all of Northwest Arkansas – Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington Counties.

Fast forward to the present day, and our journey has evolved into an awe-inspiring tale. The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas has proudly bestowed a staggering $17.8 million upon 21,435 resilient single parents in the four-county area.

 Our impact has grown exponentially over the last forty years, creating waves of positive change.