The Lilly Endowment is a charitable foundation in the name of Jozian K. Lilly Sr. was created in 1937 from the businessman’s own pharmaceutical company. The organization’s budget at the time was 13 percent of the company, and the foundation (already independent of the company) is now one of the five largest foundations in the world, with a capital of about 11 billion dollars.

The purpose of the fund is to promote health research, fund educational projects, and build and develop churches. Two-thirds of the foundation’s total funding goes to its home state of Indiana.

The founder of the foundation was a religious man and did a lot for the development of churches, including the Church of Christ, located in his native Illinois (he sang in the choir there as a child).

Among the foundation’s most recent projects: donating $35 million to Manchester University to build the College of Pharmacy in 2012; and acquiring and building a collection of culturally important paintings that had been neglected by the state. Most of the salvaged paintings are on display in state museums.

Thanks to the support of the Independent Colleges of Indiana and the Lilly Endowment, the Unity Foundation is now offering the Lilly Community Scholarship, which is designed to provide two four-year college scholarships to benefit residents.

Lilly Endowment scholarships will make available full tuition, required fees, and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study, leading to a bachelor’s degree at any accredited public or private college or university in Indiana.

Receiving a Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is a privilege and honor for any student, far beyond its monetary value. The Scholarship Selection Committee, made up of volunteers from across the county, will endeavor to recommend the two most outstanding students from among the applicants who would have applied.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program aims to help improve Indiana’s educational attainment and enhance the ability of Indiana Community Foundations to improve the quality of life for Indiana residents. Therefore, students are urged to read carefully and apply.