New Scholarship Program to Help Adults Living With ADHD Focus on Their Possibilities
INDIANAPOLIS, June 8, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced the launch of the Focus on Your Possibilities scholarship program, the first and only scholarship program specifically for adults living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 20 scholarships worth up to $5,000 each will be awarded to United States citizens by an independent panel of experts for the 2005 fall semester -- allowing recipients to continue their education in traditional colleges, graduate schools, technical institutes or General Education Development (GED) courses.
For adults with ADHD, achieving academic success may mean a constant battle with symptoms of the disorder -- such as making careless mistakes, having trouble finishing tasks or having problems remembering appointments or obligations -- that have plagued them throughout their childhoods. Some may never have achieved the advanced degree they desire. These are the individuals Lilly wants to help.
"Far too many bright people with ADHD don't go to college at all or drop out before completing a degree," said Ruth Hughes, mother of a student with ADHD preparing for college and deputy chief executive officer for public policy and community services for Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), a nonprofit organization. "Every student with ADHD deserves the opportunity to achieve the highest academic level possible for that individual. These adults have incredible talent and energy. Let's help them use them."
"The Focus on Your Possibilities scholarship program is designed to decrease the financial barriers of achieving the education level that matches the individual's talents, desires and hard work," said Deirdre Connelly, president of Lilly USA. "This scholarship is encouragement for the person with ADHD to achieve what may have seemed impossible -- a high school degree, a college degree, technical expertise or even a graduate degree."
To apply for the scholarship, adults 25 years or older must be:
* diagnosed with ADHD by a physician and currently undergoing treatment;
* enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational/technical school or GED program on a full-time basis;
* able to provide examples of significant drive and passion that will enable them to capitalize on their talents through education.
The award recipients will have a demonstrated record of overcoming challenges, and the scholarship program will reward them in their work toward academic success.
Applications for the fall semester are due July 15, 2005, and award recipients will be announced August 5, 2005. For application information, please call 1-800-LillyRx or visit www.ADHD.com .
"This scholarship gives adults with ADHD a second chance to achieve their life goals, and we are excited to play a small role in that," Connelly said.
About ADHD
ADHD affects 3 percent to 7 percent of school-aged children and manifests itself in levels of attention, concentration, activity, distractibility and impulsivity that are inappropriate to the child's age.(1) In addition, 60 percent of children with the disorder carry their symptoms into adulthood.(2) Experts estimate 4 percent of adults in the United States, more than 8 million people, have ADHD.(3,4)
About Lilly
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com . O-LLY
(1) American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision, Washington, D.C., American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
(2) Schweitzer JB, et al. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Med Clin of North Am. 2001; 85(3): 757-777.
(3) Murphy K, Barkley, RA. J Atten disord. 1996; 1:147-161. (4) United States Census Summary File; 2000. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )
SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
Jennifer Bunselmeyer of Eli Lilly and Company, +1-317-655-8808
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