The Synergy scholarship for LGBTQ+ students is now open for submissions.
Created by California native GT Dave in June of 2021 in honor of Pride month, the Synergy Scholarship is now open to current California-based high school seniors who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The Scholarship is designed to empower educational opportunities within this community while encouraging aspiring businesspeople to achieve their dreams.
Dave, inspired by his own coming out story at the age of 13, wanted to create a scholarship to empower LGBTQ youth to help them follow their dreams and achieve their full potential.
“As a gay entrepreneur, I have experienced first-hand the personal and professional “As a gay entrepreneur, I have experienced first-hand the personal and professional challenges associated with being a member of the LGBTQ+ community.” States Dave on his website. “Through the Synergy Scholarship, I hope to support and encourage this group to create their own path and realize their entrepreneurial dreams.”
Raised by parents embracing Eastern philosophy, GT adopted a spiritual view of the world at a young age. After receiving the gift of a Himalayan Mother SCOBY in the early ‘90s, the Daves were intrigued by Kombucha’s ancient healing properties and began brewing their own batches of the fizzy fermented tea.
When his mother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 1994 she drank Kombucha throughout her recovery inspiring GT to begin bottling small batches of Kombucha in the kitchen of his family’s Southern California home. Later that year, he sold his first two cases of Original to Erewhon, an LA health food store, making him the first to put Kombucha on shelves in the United States.
While struggling with the woes of starting a business, Dave was also growing up as a gay man. Through strength and perseverance, he channeled his creativity, unique point of view and identity into the company that today holds leading rank as the #1 kombucha brand in the world. It’s because of his experience that he is launching this scholarship so that he can give back to members of the LGBTQ+ community and lift them up to their full potential.
To be considered for the Synergy Scholarship applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
-Financial Need Verification
-Be a member of the LGBTQ+ community
-Currently enrolled in high school and scheduled to graduate during the 2021-2022 school year
-Have a commitment to education
-Seeking secondary education
-Have a minimum GPA of 2.5
-Must legally reside in the state of California
-Pursuits Passion /interest/ plans to pursue business or entrepreneurship
The Synergy Scholarship will fund a $250,000 commitment to help winners pay for higher education over the next 5 years. Winners will be announced in 2022. To find out more information and/or apply visit https://gtslivingfoods.com/pages/synergy-scholarship
