Scholarship Program

Haku Baldwin Center is committed to making our programs available to as many people as possible. Through donations and relationships with community partners, Haku Baldwin Center offers financial assistance to families and individuals who could not otherwise afford our specialized services.

Scholarship assistance is provided through adjusted lesson fees to approved applicants. While HBC scholarships cover most of the cost of lessons through the generosity of our donors, a nominal fee for lessons is still passed on to all participants.

If you would like to donate to the 2024 Scholarship Fund, please click here. Mahalo for helping us make these life-changing services more accessible to youth and adults in our community.

APPLY: Scholarship Criteria and Guidelines:

1. Availability: It is important to emphasize that scholarship funds are limited. Funding depends on the availability of funds at the time of scholarship application, and approval is not guaranteed.

2. Need: Proof of financial need is required, including a case for support. We expect your request for a scholarship to be genuine and proven quantitatively and fairly by including the required Supporting Documentation (see below).

3. Commitment: Participants who receive a scholarship must fully commit to each session (typically 6-8 weeks). Participants are required to arrive on time and attend every lesson scheduled.
   Late arrivals, no-show absences, and cancelations within 24 hours of the start time of a lesson may result in the scholarship being revoked. Make-up lessons are not available for scholarship recipients.

4. Amount of Scholarship: Participants must commit to covering 20% of tuition. Full scholarships are only available in cases of extreme financial hardship and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

5. Previous Awards: To serve as many participants as possible, Haku Baldwin Center reserves the right to limit the number of awards/scholarships given to the same participant. The number of awards depends on available funds at the time of application.

6. Testimonials: We require a parent/caregiver testimonial at the end of each session to share the positive benefits of participating in the program. You may also submit a testimonial from a physician, therapist, or healthcare provider. Failure to provide a testimonial may affect your eligibility for future scholarship funding.

7. Deadline to Apply: Scholarship applications must be submitted at least 15 days before the first lesson to allow our team enough time to review all applications fairly. If an application is not received by the deadline, the full lesson fees will be due before lessons start.

8. Eligibility: Applicants must have already: 1) submitted a TRP/EAL Participant Application Form, and 2) received confirmation from the Program Director that the participant has been cleared to start lessons at HBC.
   New participants: click here to download a rider/participant application form. Please allow yourself enough time to obtain the required Physician’s Referral Form before submitting your application. If you have concerns about the application window, or the lesson waitlist, please get in touch to discuss.

Lesson Fees:

The actual cost per participant in 2024 is $319 per lesson, but we charge only $75. We actively fundraise throughout the year to underwrite the cost of our programming so that we can charge less than 25% of the actual cost. For example, tuition for one 6-week session is $450 (6 x $75).

Approved scholarship awardees must pay a minimum of 20% of tuition*, due at least 7 days before the commencement of the session (e.g., if lessons start on January 15th, fees are due by January 8th).

Fee schedule as of March 1, 2024:
$75 per 55-60 minute lesson
$60 per 30-35 minute lesson

*20% of tuition as of March 1, 2024:
$15 per 55-60 minute lesson
$12 per 30-35 minute lesson

Lesson fees can be paid by check, cash, or Zelle (online bank transfer) only.

The Application Process:

1. Complete the Scholarship Application Form and upload all supporting documentation as listed below.

2. You will receive confirmation of receipt via email.

3. Our Sponsorship Committee will review your completed application. We will contact you if we have any questions.

4. The final decision will be sent via email. If applicants are not selected, they may re-apply for the next session.

5. Scholarship awardees will submit the minimum lesson fee at least 7 days before the first lesson.

Supporting Documentation:

All applications must include the following documentation. A section on the application form lets you upload documents directly. Applications submitted without the required documents will not be reviewed. Please reach out if you have any technical issues.

All personal and financial information will be kept strictly confidential.

FOR NEW PARTICIPANTS:

• UPLOAD: First page of the prior year’s IRS Income Tax Return

• UPLOAD: Current Photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, state ID, passport)

• UPLOAD: Proof of Income (e.g., W2 or equivalent)

• UPLOAD: Proof of Residency (e.g., utility bill showing address; only required if your photo ID does not have a Maui address)

• Your Participant Number (Proof of approved Participant Application Form)

  • This number is included in your welcome email from the Program Director confirming that your Participant Application Form has been accepted and the participant has been cleared to participate in lessons. The Participant Number should be added to the scholarship form below.

FOR EXISTING PARTICIPANTS:

• UPLOAD: First page of the prior year’s IRS Income Tax Return

• UPLOAD: Current Photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, state ID, passport)

• UPLOAD: Proof of Income (e.g., W2 or equivalent)

• Participant Number not required for existing participants