The mission of the Education Foundation of the Florida Federation of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. is to build at least one scholarship house on the campus of every state university in Florida to provide housing for female college students.
The scholarship houses are more than just homes. Scholarship houses serve as cooperative facilities where young women further their educational goals, share leadership experiences, life skills development and family community.
The Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization under section 501 (3) (c) of the Internal Revenue code so all donations are tax deductible.
Since 1965, the Foundation has built three houses with funds raised almost exclusively within the BPW membership.
Florida State University, Tallahassee
In 1965 the dream takes root. The Education Foundation is chartered by the BPW/Florida membership and purchases the first scholarship house in Tallahassee, adjoining Florida State University.
This house provided a home to 20-22 undergraduate women annually during its 12 years of operation. In 1976, this house was sold and a new one was built on Stadium Drive adjacent to the FSU campus.The new house, dedicated in 1977 at a cost of $150,000 was paid in full in three years.
The second house located on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando was dedicated in 1986 at a cost of $235,000. The 10-year note was paid in full in just four years, a full six years ahead of schedule.
For over 25 years, the UCF Scholarship house was the "home away from home" for hundreds of young women. Faced with incurring additional costs to meet specific fire safety standards for on-campus residential property, the University decided to close the UCF Scholarship House at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Future plans of the university call for new use of the land where the scholarship house is now located.
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Scholarship House number three on the campus at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, was dedicated in 1996 with building costs of $360,000.
Even though construction costs have tripled since the FSU house was built, the Education Foundation paid off the note prior to the 10-year plan.
On November 20, 2009, the Ceremonial Groundbreaking for the Helen K. Leslie BPW Scholarship House was held at St. Petersburg College.
Congratulations to the BPW/FL Education Foundation Board of Directors for continuing to meet the housing needs for women as they move forward with their educational pursuits! Our thanks to BPW Florida members and friends of BPW for their continuous support of the BPW Florida Education Foundation both in-kind and financial. It takes the collective efforts of all to assure success in such endeavors!
Ceremonial Groundbreaking Friday, November 20th, 2009
Helen K. Leslie BPW Scholarship House
7001 Burlington Avenue North
St. Petersburg, Florida
The second house located on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando was dedicated in 1986 at a cost of $235,000. 
Scholarship House number three on the campus at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, was dedicated in 1996 with building costs of $360,000.
On November 20, 2009, the Ceremonial Groundbreaking for the Helen K. Leslie BPW Scholarship House was held at St. Petersburg College.
