Scholarship fund (Lost Dutchman Marathon donations) covers swim lessons and halves some youth program fees

Parks staff summarized the department’s scholarship program on April 1, saying the fund—largely supported by donations from the Lost Dutchman Marathon—helps reduce costs for youth participants.

Jamie Sullivan said the program provides 100% scholarships for youth swim lessons and will cover 50% of youth program fees that exceed $15. Youth memberships at the Multi‑Generation Center can be provided at 100% but the membership must be used a minimum of eight times in a month to renew.

Eligibility and process: applicants must be 17 or younger, reside in the Apache Junction School District (zoning includes Gold Canyon as noted), and provide documentation of financial need; awards are valid through Dec. 31 of the award year and recipients must reapply annually. Sullivan said staff can approve awards at the supervisor level in most cases, though some approvals may require up to 24 business hours if a supervisor is not available.

Sullivan said roughly $10,000 in scholarship funds were used last year (about $6,500 for programming and the remainder for special events fee waivers). She encouraged staff and commissioners to post information in the summer brochure and on the city website and said the department would provide a list of needed donation items for animal and event fundraising.

Sullivan said she could not recall an occasion when the fund had been insufficient to meet demand in recent memory but emphasized that funds are separate and carried over year to year.