History of Bootstraps

In 1945, a group of dedicated citizens established the Evergreen Scholarship Association with a mission to support outstanding graduating seniors from Evergreen High School. Through generous donations from the community, the high school PTA, and the Evergreen Women’s Club, the group raised $11,000 in seed money. By the spring of 1947, the association proudly awarded its first two $150 two-year scholarships.

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In 1979, Bootstraps was founded with the goal of providing interest-free loans to students who might otherwise struggle to finance their education.

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In 1992, the Evergreen Scholarship Association and Bootstraps, Inc. joined forces to form Evergreen Scholarship/Bootstraps, Inc. (ESBI). In 2009, we simplified our name to Bootstraps, Inc.

 

Thanks to our Create-a-Scholarship/Create-a-Loan program, we have significantly increased the number of awards we administer. If you’re interested in starting a scholarship or providing an interest-free loan, please click here.