Calvin Dawson Memorial Award

Scholarship Sponsored by Hemophilia Foundation of Florida

The Calvin Dawson Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of the founder and first Executive Director of the Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida, now known as the Bleeding Disorders Foundation of Florida. Calvin Dawson was a passionate advocate for the rights of individuals with bleeding disorders, dedicating his life to serving these individuals and their families.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with bleeding disorders and their families through education, information and referral services, advocacy, and research.

Amount: The number and amount of scholarships varies

Candidate: Florida residents with bleeding disorders attending a college, university or trade school.

What Is Hemophilia A?

Hemophilia A, also called factor VIII (8) deficiency or classic hemophilia, is a genetic disorder caused by missing or defective factor VIII (FVIII), a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about 1/3 of cases found have no previous family history.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hemophilia occurs in approximately 1 in 5,617 live male births. There are between 30,000 to  33,000 males with hemophilia in the US.  More than half of people diagnosed with hemophilia A have the severe form. Hemophilia A is four times as common as hemophilia B. Hemophilia affects all races and ethnic groups.

What is Hemophilia B

Hemophilia B, also called factor IX (FIX) deficiency or Christmas disease, is a genetic disorder caused by missing or defective factor IX, a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about 1/3 of cases are caused by a spontaneous mutation, a change in a gene.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hemophilia occurs in approximately 1 in 5,000 live births. There are between 30,000  33,000 people with hemophilia in the US. All races and ethnic groups are affected. Hemophilia B is four times less common than hemophilia A.

The Scholarship Fund continues its mission, aiming to support those with bleeding disorders who are committed to achieving success in life.

Scholarships are available to Florida residents with Hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other related hereditary bleeding disorders. These scholarships are intended for high school graduates pursuing post-secondary education at universities, colleges, technical or trade schools, or other certification programs. Scholarships are awarded based on merit, financial need, community service, and the aspirations of the applicant as expressed in an essay. The funds will be disbursed directly to the educational institution the recipient plans to attend.

Please submit your application, transcripts, and three reference forms by April 30, 2025, to the Bleeding Disorders Foundation of Florida at 1350 Orange Ave, Suite 227, Winter Park, FL 32789, or email them to info@bleedingdisordersfl.org. Recipients will be notified by August 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application forms can be downloaded from our website: https://bleedingdisordersfl.org/what-wedo/scholarships/. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Bleeding Disorders Foundation of Florida at 1-800-293-6527 or info@bleedingdisordersfl.org.