The Ruth Cheatham Foundation

The Ruth Cheatham Foundation exists to ensure that adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have the opportunity to pursue higher education and build meaningful futures. We remove financial barriers through scholarships while providing the academic, emotional, and career support scholars need to persist through college and beyond. By investing in resilient young adults whose lives have been disrupted by cancer, we empower the next generation of graduates, professionals, and leaders. Since our founding, TRCF has awarded more than 1,000 scholarships and continues to expand access to education, mentorship, tutoring, and community for AYA cancer survivors across the United States.

Our work extends beyond scholarships. We provide holistic support that helps scholars persist through college, including academic tutoring, peer connections, educational support resources, career readiness programming, and a community of individuals who understand the unique challenges of balancing survivorship with higher education.

Our values are rooted in compassion, integrity, equity, and empowerment. We strive to ensure that every eligible applicant receives a fair, unbiased review and that our programs are accessible to survivors from diverse backgrounds across the United States. We are committed to investing not only in students' education, but in their long-term success, resilience, and ability to thrive beyond cancer.