NEW YORK, NY (March 26, 2025) – Major League Baseball pitcher Marcus Stroman of the New York Yankees and Bold.org, the leading scholarship and student finance platform, have expanded their partnership to support students impacted by the 2025 California wildfires.
Now in its second year, the Marcus Stroman Scholarship, an initiative of the Height Doesn’t Measure Heart (HDMH) Foundation, will provide two high school seniors from Pasadena and Altadena, California, with $25,000 each to help them overcome financial barriers and pursue higher education.
“In our first year, we were able to impact the lives of two incredible young students, and I want to maintain that tradition,” said Stroman. “Towns across Southern California experienced total devastation from the recent wildfires and we must not let what happened change the rightful path of students who want to thrive and succeed. We continue to live by the mission of the HDMH Foundation, which is to create opportunities for underserved youth to rise above their circumstances, realize their greatest potential, and never stop pursuing their dreams. That is why I’ve decided to extend this scholarship opportunity to high school seniors from those impacted areas and attempt to help keep these dreams alive.”
Stroman, who has dedicated his foundation to empowering underprivileged youth, is expanding his scholarship’s reach after recognizing the devastating impact of the California wildfires on students and their families. Last year, the Marcus Stroman Scholarship 2024 awarded two high school seniors from the Bronx $25,000 each, providing financial support to students in one of New York City’s most underserved communities.
Now, by extending support to students from Pasadena and Altadena, Stroman and the HDMH Foundation aim to uplift and help those who have faced extraordinary adversity, ensuring they still have access to transformative educational opportunities. Applicants must share an essay and video detailing how the 2025 wildfires have impacted their goals and aspirations, their dream college, and why they wish to attend.
IMPACT ON THE PASADENA AND ALTADENA COMMUNITIES
The 2025 California wildfire season has left lasting devastation in Pasadena and Altadena, with many families struggling to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. For students pursuing higher education, the added burden of tuition coupled with the economic uncertainty caused by the wildfires has made their academic goals even harder to achieve.
This year, the Marcus Stroman Scholarship serves as a beacon of hope for students who refuse to let adversity define their future.
“This scholarship is more than just financial aid. It’s a commitment to helping students affected by the California wildfires so they don’t have to put their education on hold,” said Tori Meglio, VP of Donors at Bold.org. “We’re proud to work alongside Marcus Stroman and the HDMH Foundation to support these resilient students as they overcome challenges and continue striving toward their academic goals.”
SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
Scholarship Name: Marcus Stroman Scholarship
Total Award Amount: $50,000
Number of Recipients: 2
Eligibility: High school senior from Pasadena or Altadena, California, who identifies as low-income and has a minimum GPS of 3.0.
View the Marcus Stroman Scholarship here.
ABOUT MARCUS STROMAN AND THE HDMH FOUNDATION
Marcus Stroman is an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees. In 2017, he was named World Baseball Classic MVP, leading Team USA to its first-ever World Baseball Classic title. He was also a nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes players for their outstanding community service and contributions beyond the game. Off the field, Stroman is dedicated to making a meaningful impact, particularly in education. He is passionate about advocating for students and ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent young people from achieving their college and career aspirations.
Height Doesn’t Measure Heart (HDMH) is more than just Marcus Stroman’s mantra. It’s the driving philosophy behind his nonprofit organization. Stroman’s journey, both in baseball and in life, exemplifies the power of persistence, determination, and resilience. His college education at Duke University played a pivotal role in shaping his success, and he remains a strong advocate for higher learning. Committed to empowering youth in underserved communities, Stroman, through the HDMH Foundation, provides essential resources, mentorship, and financial support to help students overcome obstacles and achieve their academic and professional goals.
For more information, visit hdmhfoundation.org. Follow Marcus Stroman on social media: IG @Stroman, X @STRO, FB @MarcusStromanOfficial. Follow the HDMH Foundation: IG @HDMHFoundation, X @HDMHFoundation, FB @HDMHFoundation.
ABOUT BOLD.ORG
Founded in 2019 with the mission to fight student debt, Bold.org is a leading scholarship and student finance platform dedicated to helping students at all educational levels find and apply for exclusive scholarships, fellowships, and grants while offering student banking rewards. Bold.org also empowers individuals and organizations–including Marcus Stroman, Terry Crews, Cat Zingano and many others, to create impactful scholarships, fellowships and grants to support students on their academic journeys.
Through its partnership with the Bold Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, Bold.org administers scholarships, facilitates donor crowdfunding, and accepts tax-deductible donations. This collaboration ensures that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to scholarship recipients, maximizing the impact and expanding educational opportunities for students nationwide.
