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Joshua Hamer Legacy Foundation, with Kutcher Foundation support, expands scholarships in Harford County
Summary
The Joshua Hamer Legacy Foundation, founded after Joshua Hamer's 2017 death, has awarded 26 scholarships in three years and opens applications Feb. 15–Apr. 15; the Kutcher Foundation provides administrative support, mentoring programs and fundraising to sustain and scale the effort.
The Joshua Hamer Legacy Foundation, created after the 2017 killing of local student Joshua Hamer, has awarded 26 scholarships over three years and will accept applications Feb. 15 through Apr. 15, the group's leaders said in a Hartford Magazine interview.
Founder and executive director Jennifer Hamer said the foundation began by helping eighth-grade boys and expanded to provide scholarships for four-year colleges, community colleges and trade schools across Maryland. “We opened it up to be able to go to a trade school, community college, or 4 year college,” Hamer said, noting awards have gone to students who lost parents, are in foster care, or who must stay close to home to care for siblings.
Why it matters: The foundation aims to reach students who might otherwise be overlooked by large scholarship programs—applicants who have strong stories but need extra help. The organization is volunteer-run; Hamer and other board members are unpaid and rely on community donations and events to fund awards.
John Kutcher, executive director of the Kutcher Foundation, said his organization brought the Hamer program under its umbrella to reduce administrative burden on the family and help scale mentoring and internship opportunities. “We kinda bring programs like that under our umbrella and can save a lot of the administrative cost,” Kutcher said, adding the Kutcher Foundation supports internships, a writing laureate program and a Technology for Causes affiliate.
Operational details and eligibility: Cheryl Abbey, Joshua's grandmother and a foundation volunteer, said the application opens Feb. 15 and closes Apr. 15; award decisions are scheduled for May 1. Julie Vellante, chief operating officer, described a three-month application window and said applications are checked for completeness and eligibility. Vellante stated online materials list eligibility requirements, which she said include a GPA of 3.0; selected winners complete an allocation-of-funds form and the foundation sends checks and congratulatory letters directly to recipients' institutions.
Fundraising and events: Organizers described an online auction with donated items and a weeklong Ocean City stay as a prize, annual bingo fundraisers, and other in-kind donations. Donations can be made via the foundation website, by mail, or by attending events, volunteers said.
Voices of recipients: Recent awardees described the scholarship's impact. Justin Spencer, a 2024 recipient and sophomore at Elon University, said the award recognized both academic and athletic effort. Abby Griffey, a Stevenson University nursing freshman, said the funds reduced the need for a full-time job and helped cover books and fees.
What comes next: Leaders said they plan to broaden the Joshua Hamer Legacy Project—an umbrella for scholarships, internships and community gifts—and to pursue endowments to sustain the work long term. For more information and to apply, organizers directed listeners to the foundation’s website and Facebook page.
The interview aired on Hartford Magazine; organizers urged prospective applicants and supporters to consult the foundation’s online materials for complete eligibility criteria and deadlines.
