News Archives - Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars

Purchase Your Tickets Today! Thursday October 1—A Toast to Tomorrow’s Leaders

by Grace Verhines | Sep 18, 2026 | News

Please join us for an evening at the Birmingham Country Club on October 1, 2026. Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars and our Next Level Scholars Program will host A Toast to Tomorrow’s Leaders.

This event is an opportunity to learn more about our mission and the work we are doing with our scholars. Guests will hear more about our impact while also networking with friends, supporters, and others who share an interest in our mission.

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Birmingham Country Club, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

1750 Saxon Drive, Birmingham, MI 48009

Dress Code: Business Casual

Ticket price: $75.00 per guest

To purchase tickets for this event, click here to register!

For more information, please reach out to Development Director Katie Frye at kfrye@drdfs.org.

We look forward to seeing you October 1st!

2026 DRDFS Spark Award Recipient

by Grace Verhines | Aug 25, 2026 | News

Each year, the Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS) Spark Award recognizes someone whose leadership, generosity, and commitment help ignite possibility for our scholars and our organization.

This year, we are proud to recognize Vamsee Puvvala as the 2026 Spark Award recipient.

Since becoming involved with DRDFS, Vamsee has been an extraordinary champion for our mission. Over the past three years, his relationships, advocacy, and enthusiasm have helped generate more than $350,000 in support of the DRDFS Celebration Luncheon.

But Vamsee’s impact goes far beyond the dollars raised.

He is someone who genuinely cares about our scholars and believes deeply in the power of education to change lives. He doesn’t simply make introductions—he opens doors, brings people together, and invites others to become part of the work.

For Vamsee, that commitment is deeply personal.

As a first-generation immigrant, Vamsee came to the United States to pursue a graduate degree at Wayne State University. After paying his first semester’s tuition, security deposit, and rent, there wasn’t much left. He worked on and off campus to cover his expenses and continue his education.

Then, during Christmas break in 2006, an opportunity to work for Professor Joseph Pellerito ultimately helped cover the remaining cost of his education at Wayne State.

That experience has stayed with him.

“I know firsthand how close someone’s dreams can come to slipping away—not because of a lack of ability, determination, or ambition, but simply because of financial circumstances,” Vamsee shared. “I was fortunate. Many talented students are not given the same opportunities I received.”

It’s a perspective that makes the mission of DRDFS especially meaningful to him.

For Vamsee, supporting scholars is about ensuring that talented, determined students have someone willing to believe in them, invest in them, and help create the opportunities they need to keep moving forward.

“Supporting this mission is not just volunteer work—it is my way of giving back to a community that gave me everything,” he said.

That commitment is evident in the way Vamsee shows up for DRDFS. He leads authentically and without seeking recognition. He shares our mission with his network, builds relationships, creates opportunities, and is always willing to make one more introduction or ask one more person to get involved.

Those qualities made the decision to honor him an easy one. The DRDFS Board of Directors unanimously selected Vamsee as the 2026 Spark Award recipient in recognition of the tremendous impact he has had on our organization and, ultimately, on the hundreds of scholars whose futures are brighter because of his support.

When accepting the award, Vamsee reflected on watching Bill and Vivienne Young receive the Spark Award in 2022 and the many individuals who have been recognized since the award was established.

2026 DRDFS Spark Award recipient—and thank you for continuing to open doors for the next generation.

“To be included alongside those who have inspired and served so selflessly is a privilege I will never take for granted,” he shared. “I accept this award with sincere gratitude and with a renewed commitment to continue supporting this mission to the very best of my ability.”

That renewed commitment captures exactly what the Spark Award is about: people who see possibility in our scholars and use their own relationships, resources, and experiences to help turn that possibility into opportunity.

Congratulations to Vamsee Puvvala, our 2026 DRDFS Spark Award recipient—and thank you for continuing to open doors for the next generation.

In Memory of Bill Kingsley

by Grace Verhines | Aug 3, 2026 | News

It is with profound sadness that Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars shares the passing of our Board President, Bill Kingsley.

Since joining our Board of Directors in 2019, Bill helped shape the future of our organization through thoughtful leadership, sound judgment, and an unwavering belief in our mission. He brought an incredible business mind to every conversation, helping us navigate important decisions with clarity, perspective, and steady leadership. As our organization grew and evolved, Bill’s guidance was instrumental in building a stronger foundation for the future.

More importantly, Bill believed deeply in our students. He saw their potential, believed in their dreams, and never lost sight of why this work matters. He understood that when young people are given opportunities, support, and encouragement, they can accomplish remarkable things. That belief guided every decision he made on behalf of our organization.

Bill was also a trusted mentor, a generous friend, and someone who was always willing to celebrate a success, offer thoughtful advice, or make a connection that could move our mission forward. His kindness, humor, humility, and genuine care for others left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.

We are incredibly grateful for Bill’s years of service and the legacy he leaves behind. His impact will continue to be felt in the strength of our organization and, most importantly, in the lives of the thousands of students whose futures have been forever changed through Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars.

Our hearts are with Bill’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew and loved him during this difficult time.

A Toast to Tomorrow’s Leaders

by Grace Verhines | Jul 31, 2026 | News

Coming up this summer and fall, Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars and our Next Level Scholars Program will host A Toast to Tomorrow’s Leaders. This series of engagement events will be an opportunity to learn more about our mission and the programming that we provide to our scholars, network with friends and supporters passionate about education, and celebrate the many achievements of our scholars.

Join us for an evening of big ideas, great connections, and plenty of inspiration!

Tuesday, August 11th
Oakland Hills Country Club, 5:00 – 6:30 PM
3951 W Maple Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
Dress Code: Business Casual.
Ticket price: $100.00 per guest

Thursday, October 1st
Birmingham Country Club, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
1750 Saxon Drive, Birmingham, MI 48009
Dress Code: Business Casual
Ticket price: $75.00 per guest

To purchase tickets for our August 11th event, click here!

For more information, please reach out to Development Director Katie Frye at kfrye@drdfs.org

Creating More Good Days for Our Scholars, Together

by Brooklynn Lambert | May 5, 2026 | News

Blog written by DRDFS Communications Manager, Brooklynn Lambert

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme from Mental Health America, “More Good Days, Together,” is a powerful reminder that mental health is not just about getting through difficult moments. It is about creating more moments where people feel supported, balanced, and able to thrive. A good day can look different for everyone, but for many students, it starts with knowing they are not facing everything on their own.

At Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars, we see the determination and drive our scholars bring to their goals every day. They are managing school, work, family responsibilities, and the pressure of planning for what comes next. For many, the path to higher education also comes with financial stress and uncertainty. These realities can make it harder to experience those “good days,” even as they continue to push forward.

The idea of having more good days is not about perfection or constant happiness. It is about making space for students to feel supported in ways that are real and meaningful. For some, a good day might mean feeling confident walking into a test. For others, it might mean having a moment to rest without guilt, or having someone check in and truly listen. These moments matter, and they add up.

Our scholars show us what resilience looks like, but resilience should not mean doing everything alone. Creating more good days, together, means recognizing that support systems play a critical role in student success. When students feel seen, heard, and valued beyond their academic performance, they are better able to navigate challenges and stay connected to their goals.

There are simple ways we can all help create more good days for students. Taking the time to ask how they are doing and being ready to listen. Reminding them that their worth is not defined by a single outcome. Encouraging balance and making space for rest. Connecting them to resources when they need additional support. These actions may seem small, but they can shape how a student experiences their day and their future.

As a community of donors, educators, families, and supporters, we have an opportunity to be part of this effort. Every scholarship we provide helps reduce financial stress, but our impact goes beyond that. When we show up with empathy and understanding, we help create an environment where students can have more good days and build a stronger foundation for their well-being.

Our scholars are working toward bright futures, and they deserve to get there in a way that supports both their ambitions and their mental health. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that more good days are possible when we work together to support the whole student!

What Comes Next: Supporting Students Through Life After High School

by Brooklynn Lambert | Apr 21, 2026 | News

Blog written by Communications Manager, Brooklynn Lambert

This time of year, it can feel like everything is building toward one moment. Graduation is around the corner, plans are starting to take shape, and one of the most common questions seniors hear is, “What’s next?”

For some students, that answer comes easily. For others, it’s a lot more complicated.

There is a quiet pressure that shows up in these final months of high school. The expectation to have a clear plan, to feel confident in it, and to be ready for whatever comes after. But the reality is, many students are stepping into this next chapter with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. They are making big decisions while still figuring out who they are and what they want.

That in-between space after high school ends but before everything else fully begins can feel overwhelming. In those moments, what matters most is not having everything figured out. It is having support.

At DRDFS, that support does not stop at graduation. It continues throughout a student’s entire post-secondary journey. Through our coaching model, students stay connected to guidance, encouragement, and real, consistent support as they navigate new environments, responsibilities, and challenges.

That support can take many forms. It might be someone checking in to make sure a student is staying on track, offering advice when plans shift, or simply being there to listen when things feel uncertain. Scholarships are one piece of the puzzle, but they are only part of what we do. What truly makes a difference is the ongoing connection and the sense that someone is in your corner from start to finish.

There is no single right path after high school. Some students head to college, others enter the workforce, and many adjust their plans along the way. Growth is not always linear, and that is okay. What matters is having the confidence to keep moving forward and the support to keep going when things get challenging.

As seniors take their next steps, it is worth remembering that no one does it alone. Behind every student is a network of people who have helped them get to this point. With the right support system in place, students are not just prepared to start their next chapter. They are supported all the way through it, until they reach their goals and beyond.