Second Chance Awards
ACF offers a ‘second chance’ for young people who may not have been able to attend post secondary after graduation. We recognize that for some, life can bring unexpected challenges that require they pause before continuing on to post-secondary. Our donors believe, like us, that a hand up can make it possible for a young person to stay motivated to achieve their education dreams.
The Abbotsford Community Foundation (ACF) Second Chance Awards Program aims to increase access to post-secondary education for young adults (aged 18-29) who have graduated from a public or private Abbotsford high school.
This is a new program to ACF, made possible by donors who understand that not every high school grad may be able to attend post secondary right after graduation. There can be many barriers for young people wishing to further their education and this fund gives them a second chance to achieve their educational goals. The Second Chance Awards program is open for applications May 1st of each year. Recipients are chosen in June and applicants are notified as soon as possible.
2026 Second Chance Award Eligibility
Before beginning the application process it’s important to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements. To be eligible, you must have:
- Graduated from a recognized public or private Abbotsford high school;
- Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident with a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN); and
- You must be between the ages of 18-29 at the time of application due date.
Please note, if you have won AND claimed an ACF Student Award, you are not eligible to apply for this program.
Beginning May 1st, the Second Chance Award application will be available online from May 1st to May 22 @ 3 pm. Applicants will need to have proof of graduation from an Abbotsford high school including their name, graduation year, and name of the school. You will also need a valid SIN number. Awards can be used to cover tuition, textbooks, room and board, and other materials related to your education as long as it can be paid through your student account through your post secondary school.
Successful applicants will have 12 months (1 year) to claim their award. Payments are made to a recognized post secondary institution upon verification of a student’s enrolment/registration.
Applicants may apply up to a maximum of 4 times (4 years) as long as they remain enrolled at a recognized post secondary institution and meet all the Second Chance Award eligibility criteria. Successful application in 1 year does not guarantee funding in future years.
The Second Chance Awards program is now closed for 2025.