Latest News and Updates

Isaac Olvera is a 2-time Carson Scholar who continues to excel year after year. Isaac, an exceptional student from Riverside, California, is fascinated with the way the heart works and aspires to become a cardiothoracic surgeon one day to help society by preventing and treating heart disease. While only in 10th grade, his stellar abilities […]

December 12th was a frigid, blustery day in Pittsburgh, but spirits were running high at the annual CSF Pittsburgh Chapter Holiday Celebration. The event, held at the historic Pittsburgh Field Club, was decked out in full holiday regalia, including fresh garland, holiday wreaths and Christmas trees galore. The event began with a cocktail hour on […]

The Ben Carson Reading Project is soaring to new heights with the grand opening of Oregon’s first reading room at Hamlin Middle School in Springfield on December 6, 2024. This marks an exciting milestone, bringing the total number of reading rooms to 296 across 24 states and Washington, DC! The Hamlin Middle School reading room […]

The Ben Carson Reading Project is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! In honor of this celebration, the program is getting a whole new look. Our new logo reflects our ongoing commitment to inspiring and empowering young readers across the nation. This exciting change marks a new chapter in our journey, and we are thrilled […]

With a passion for leadership and a heart for service, Sydney Cummings, a 2024 Carson Scholar from St. Michaels, Maryland, who won the scholarship as an eighth-grade student, channels her talents to uplift her community and chase her dreams. As a sports fan, she aspires to be a sports broadcaster one day, reliving her childhood […]

#GivingTuesday, a movement created in 2012, seeks to unleash the power of radical generosity around the world by inspiring giving and working to make it a part of everyday life.  The idea behind #GivingTuesday is simple: a day that encourages people to do good.  Over the last dozen years, it has grown as a movement to […]

Throughout 2024, the Carson Scholars Fund focused on growth – empowering minds, growing our community and cultivating success. As we reflect on this past year, we are pleased to share our progress in each area. The 2024 scholarship season, following the theme of growth, honored 570 new and 936 recognized scholars. This marked our largest […]

“Wouldn’t it be cool if Camp Read-a-lot was real?“ is the message that appeared at the top of a colorful mega screen in the front of the “cafe-torium”, near the end of the program at South Olive Elementary. A one-liner expressing gratitude to those who made “this reading room dream a reality” ran along the […]

A reading room is more than just a cozy place to read. It’s designed to spark innovative and aspirational thinking in young children. This space encourages students to think for themselves and explore a world of possibilities through the pages of a book. Pat Davis was one of those students who found inspiration in his […]

Elizabeth recently joined the Carson Scholars Fund staff as a Scholarship Program Coordinator.  She is hitting the ground running by assisting with the 2025 scholarship season.  Elizabeth is a 7-time Carson Scholar.  She looks fondly upon her time as a scholar and now she is excited to give back by supporting the next generation of […]

This summer, after hearing feedback from our scholars about their love of art, the CSF held its first ever holiday art contest.  Carson Scholars were encouraged to submit original artwork depicting a holiday theme.  Any medium could be used and creativity was encouraged!  The winner’s design would be featured on the CSF’s holiday card for […]

The Carson Scholars Fund is thrilled to announce the induction of six new members into its Hall of Fame!  Members of the 2025 class are advocates, scientists, researchers, creators and students.  They are champions of equal education opportunities and providing voices and resources to vulnerable populations.  Most importantly, they are changemakers who utilize their unique […]