ALSO Youth launches scholarship in memory of Judge Rick De Furia

ABC7 shared the news that ALSO Youth is launching the Hon. Rick De Furia Enrichment Scholarship, named for the longtime Sarasota judge and his legacy of investing in young people. Each year, one LGBTQ+ young person ages 10 to 24 will be chosen as the Rick De Furia Scholar and can receive up to $1,500 for a chance to grow that might otherwise be out of reach, such as art or music lessons, a professional certification, leadership training, or career exploration.

The story looks back on Judge De Furia’s life: he left the Sarasota County bench to train as an actor at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory, anchored the evening news on SNN, and returned as a circuit judge from 2003 until he retired in 2013, championing children and families along the way. On Suncoast View, Executive Director Annie Berkness explained that a selection committee that does not know the applicants will score every application. The scholarship was made possible by an anonymous gift.