Bellator women’s featherweight [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] has set up a scholarship in partnership with Bold.org ahead of her next fight.
Zingano on Monday announced a $10,000 scholarship on Bold.org, a platform “committed to fighting student debt through philanthropy.”
The monetary award officially is the “Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship” and has been announced just a few days before Zingano (11-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) fights Olivia Parker (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) on the Bellator 256 main card on Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The scholarship, according to a release, “will be awarded to a student who is fighting through the loss of a loved one and is in need of financial support for their education as they move forward.”
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The basis for the scholarship stems from personal losses Zingano has experienced, including the loss of her mother in 2005 from brain cancer, as well as the loss of her husband, who took his own life in 2014
“The impact of losing my loved ones changed my life,” Zingano stated. “I’m so grateful for the support and resources that many have offered me over the years. Struggling with loss is never easy, and it never goes away.
“This scholarship is for students who have lost a loved one and are still grinding away toward their education. I know at times I’ve needed help, so now I’m paying it forward to someone who has experienced loss and needs help, just as I did.”
Bold.org’s Year of Giving Campaign started in January. Previous campaign partners include DJ 3LAU, NFL wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and Imagine Dragons. At the end of the year, the campaign will announce its biggest scholarship yet for $100,000.
“Cat’s experience overcoming loss has moved all of us at Bold.org,” Bold.org CEO and founder Dror Liebenthal stated. “She is an incredible role model for anyone fighting through the loss of a loved one. Cat has taken traumatic life experiences and somehow — after everything she’s gone through — become a beacon of strength and perseverance. We’re honored to work with her for our Year of Giving Campaign, and we’ll all be rooting for her during her big fight coming up.”
Zingano, a former UFC title challenger, made her promotional debut this past September at Bellator 245 and outworked Gabby Holloway for a unanimous decision. Friday, Zingano’s fight against Parker will air live on Showtime.
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