DNA Is Founded
DNA Scholarship Program is established as a family-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to create educational opportunities for deserving young adults.
DNA in Action
A Growing Mission.
A Lasting Impact.
We're building DNA one step at a time—through scholarships, partnerships, and a commitment to educational opportunity.
Paying Opportunity Forward
DNA makes a $10,000 donor pledge to the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, supporting its work to expand educational opportunity for Chicago students.
Our First Scholars
DNA awards its first four scholarships through a partnership with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and its Youth Leadership Program.
These first awards mark DNA's transition from belief to direct action.
The Next Chapter
DNA launches its Chicago Marathon fundraising campaign, inviting a broader community to help expand future scholarship opportunities.
Coming Full Circle
From Scholar to Partnership.
For Arturo Reyes, DNA's relationship with the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund is deeply personal. As a DMSF alumnus, Arturo received scholarship support that helped make his education at De La Salle Institute in Chicago possible.
In August 2026, Arturo and Daisy Reyes visited DMSF with their daughters, Natalia and Andrea, to celebrate DNA's $10,000 commitment and, more importantly, to talk about what the two organizations can build together next.
Beginning with the Class of 2027, DNA and DMSF are exploring a new DNA Scholars initiative. DMSF would help identify graduating seniors continuing their education at a university, creating a new pathway for DNA to support students as they begin college.
Opportunity received. Opportunity carried forward.
Scholarships in Action
Our First Scholars.
DNA's first scholarship awards were made possible through a partnership with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) and its Youth Leadership Program.
LVEJO helped connect DNA with students already demonstrating academic commitment, leadership, and meaningful involvement in their community. In 2026, DNA selected and awarded its first four scholars through that collaboration.
For DNA, the partnership demonstrated the value of working alongside trusted community organizations that know their students, understand their neighborhoods, and can help educational opportunity reach young adults directly.
Four students. One first step. A model for how DNA can grow through community.
How We Work
Scholarships + Partnerships + Community
DNA does not define its impact by a fixed number of scholarships or a fixed annual award amount.
Our aim is to grow responsibly. As resources increase, so can the number of students we support and the level of educational assistance we provide.
Community partnerships help us reach students through organizations that already have infrastructure, trusted relationships, and direct access to young adults.
And we're just getting started.
The next chapter of DNA is about inviting more people into the mission while staying focused on students and educational opportunity.
See What's Next