Scholarships
Named scholarships: bright futures ahead
Central to Simply Smiles Children’s Villages is our focus on education. As the children in our care learn the power and possibility of education, youth often choose to pursue higher education or vocational training and can remain living at the village while working toward their degrees or certifications.
Featured Graduate: Lucero, licensed nurse
“To you who believed in me, to you who never withdrew your great support and friendship, to you who, with your help, have convinced me that nothing is impossible if you want to move forward. That is why my professional career is a triumph, a triumph that I share with you, and my satisfaction is a feeling that I wish to convey to you with the most sincere gratitude.”
The featured recipients are adults who provided expressed permission to Simply Smiles to use their names and likenesses on our website.
creating lasting legacies
Simply Smiles named scholarships create a lasting legacy of impact by funding in perpetuity the educational needs and aspirations of the children supported by Simply Smiles.
Lisa & Paul Doocy Scholarship
Established in 2019, the Lisa and Paul Doocy Scholarship provides higher education funding for youth supported by the Simply Smiles Children’s Village in Oaxaca, Mexico.
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Lisa and Paul Doocy have been dedicated supporters of Simply Smiles since the very beginning, when they helped to collect donations for our 3,000-mile bus journey from Connecticut to the Casa Hogar Orphanage in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Since then, they have volunteered at Simply Smiles program locations both domestically and abroad. Lisa served on our Board of Directors for nine years, and together they have championed every initiative Simply Smiles has undertaken—including hosting an annual Keep Hope Alive fundraiser in their home each spring.
Through the Lisa and Paul Doocy Scholarship, generations of students will have the opportunity to pursue higher education and realize the bright futures they deserve.
Ann & Michael Feinberg Scholarship
The Ann and Michael Feinberg Scholarship supports higher education opportunities for youth living at the Simply Smiles Children’s Village in Oaxaca, Mexico.
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Ann and Michael Feinberg have been generous supporters of and dedicated volunteers with Simply Smiles since our founding in 2003. Their time, generosity, and professional experience continue to be invaluable and deeply impactful to the success of our organization.
Ann served on the Simply Smiles Board of Directors for more than a decade, including as chairperson. With a background in education, law, and philanthropy, Ann lends expertise that continues to help shape and strengthen Simply Smiles. Michael, a retired physician, provides thoughtful consultation on medical and public health matters for the communities we serve.
Ann and Michael are tireless champions of our work, including hosting an annual Keep Hope Alive fundraiser in their home each spring.
Through their named scholarship, Ann and Michael are helping ensure that the youth in our care have the opportunity to pursue higher education and build the bright futures they deserve.
Betsy & Peter Van Loon Scholarship
The Betsy and Peter Van Loon Scholarship supports higher education opportunities for youth from the Simply Smiles Children’s Village in Oaxaca, Mexico.
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Betsy and Peter Van Loon have been devoted supporters and avid volunteers with Simply Smiles since 2013, contributing their time, generosity, talents, and deep commitment at both our Children’s Village in Oaxaca, Mexico, and during past programming on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota.
Betsy’s extensive community engagement has helped build meaningful partnerships in the Farmington, Connecticut area—including with Miss Porter’s School. Through that partnership, young women from the Reservation participated in the Sarah Porter Leadership Institute.
Peter brings a wealth of leadership experience from both the corporate and military worlds. After retiring as a U.S. Navy Captain serving in Afghanistan, Africa, and across the globe, he built a second career guiding Fortune 500 companies and startups alike. In 2025, Peter joined the Simply Smiles Board of Directors, where he continues to lend his expertise to support the evolving needs of our work.
The Betsy and Peter Van Loons Scholarship reflects their deep belief in community, connection, and the power of education to transform lives.
