Photo: The Naveen Jindal School of Management atrium at UT Dallas is named after the ECLAT Foundation.
For the past decade, the ECLAT Scholarship Fund at CFT has empowered students to further their education and pursue their dreams. ECLAT stands for “Education Changes Lives and Times.” The ECLAT Foundation’s leadership came to CFT a decade ago with a longstanding passion for education but a need for support administering scholarships.
“CFT has a talented team and a lot of connections in North Texas,” said Jane Jan, co-founder of the ECLAT Foundation. “They’re able to really broadcast our scholarship, making more students aware and increasing applications.”
The ECLAT Scholarship has a wide reach and was created to be accessible. Students from 10 different North Texas counties are invited to apply, regardless of their major. Since the spring of 2014, the ECLAT Scholarship Fund has gifted over $490,000 to more than 250 students.
Recipients come from diverse backgrounds and have diverse interests, but all share a desire to give back and help others. Powered by an engaged board and volunteers, the ECLAT Foundation’s generosity inspires the students they serve.
“It’s such a gift not to worry about the cost of my education, to focus on bettering myself, and eventually bettering my community,” shared one of the scholarship recipients.
The ECLAT Foundation is working to leave a legacy of giving.
In 2022, the foundation provided funds to complete a $1 million endowment for the Naveen Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas).
“Many years after we are gone, this particular endowment will continue to support students and change their lives,” said Dean Hasan Pirkul.
Alongside its scholarships, the foundation connects students to life-enriching experiences through its leadership programs. Students are encouraged to immerse themselves in new cultures and are pushed to grow as global leaders. Its international exchange program, the Future Leaders Program, is housed at UT Dallas.
The ECLAT Foundation’s partnership with organizations like UT Dallas and CFT help ensure that students can reach their full potential. Both CFT and the ECLAT team believe that education is the foundation to a thriving future.
“Scholarship administration is a team effort,” explained Katie Kuehl, CFT’s senior officer of scholarships and nonprofit funds. “We are proud CFT can provide needed back-office support, and that the ECLAT Foundation can come to us with the funding and volunteers to make it all possible.”
Learn more about the ECLAT Foundation at ECLATFOUNDATION.ORG
Learn more about scholarship funds at CFT at CFTEXAS.ORG/SCHOLARSHIPS
