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Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust Announces Scholarship Recipients, continues legacy of impact

Date Posted: September 3, 2026

PHILADELPHIA, PA. — The Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust is proud to announce its latest cohort of Step Up Scholarship and Moving Mountains recipients. Grounded in the visionary legacy of Reverend Leon H. Sullivan, the Step Up Scholarship awards $2,500 to Philadelphia residents getting ready to pursue or continuing postsecondary education who demonstrate outstanding perseverance, academic excellence, and a deep commitment to community empowerment. The Moving Mountains Scholarship awards $10,000 to Philadelphia small businesses designed to stabilize daily operations, mitigate risks, unlock capacity, and help realize long-term revenue growth.

2026 Step Up Scholarship Awardees

  • Shakya Geiger | Junior, Community College of Philadelphia (Compass Program) | Major: ASL Interpreter
  • Mariafernanda Herrera | Freshman, Villanova University | Major: Business2
  • Adijared Huerta | Sophomore, University of Pennsylvania | Major: Political Science & Environmental Science3
  • Anaya Walker | Junior, Howard University | Major: Communication Studies (Pre-Law Track)4
  • Marcel Allen | Senior, Drexel University | Major: Operation & Supply Chain Management / Business Analytics
  • Amir Staten | Junior, Morehouse College | Major: Sociology
  • Sabrina Guo | Senior, University of Pennsylvania | Major: Health and Societies7
  • Dean Harvey | Freshman, Morehouse College | Major: Marketing

2026 Moving Mountains Small Business Awardees

  • Plant and People Partnership, Cherron Perry Thomas | Retail plant and wellness events business. Grant will support delivery capabilities, event activations, and digital marketing.
  • DreamWorld Bakes, Ashley Huston | Neighborhood bakery and cake studio. Grant will support accessible expansion with respect to ADA regulations.
    C2 Consulting Contract Readiness & Business Growth Readiness, Chelsea Cox | Strategic planning, communications, and analytics consulting firm.Grant will modernize certifications, management support, upgrade digital footprint, and formalize bookkeeping.
  • STEM Prep, Renee Harris | STEM education programs for students, afterschool and summer focus. Grant will fund instructional lab materials, program staffing, and digital marketing outreach.
  • Unicorn Beauty, Sara Brown | Nail salon with luxury beauty and personal services. Grant will renovate facilities, invest in staff brand certifications, and upgrade supply and inventory.

Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust (LHSCT) has a longstanding history of investing in the community through grants to nonprofit organizations and small businesses, as well as scholarships to students. Historically, LHSCT grants and scholarships generally ranged from $2,500 to $5,000, supporting organizations, entrepreneurs, and students advancing opportunity within the community. In 2025, under the leadership of Executive Director Portia Fullard, LHSCT refined its grantmaking strategy and launched a new biannual grantmaking structure, creating a more intentional and programmatic approach to community investment. Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust increased the size of the awards for their Pathways to Impact Moving Mountains, for small businesses and nonprofits, and has a fundraising goal to increase the Step Up scholarship for students.

The new structure established three distinct programs aligned with the Trust’s mission and Reverend Dr. Leon H. Sullivan’s legacy:

  • Moving Mountains – supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship.
  • Pathways to Impact – investing in nonprofit organizations and community impact.
  • Step Up – expanding educational opportunity through student scholarships.

The new model builds upon LHSCT’s historic commitment to grantmaking while creating clearer and more consistent pathways for nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and students to access resources. This evolution reflects the Trust’s commitment to carrying Reverend Sullivan’s principles of self-help, self-sufficiency, education, economic empowerment, and community advancement forward through a structured grantmaking strategy designed to meet the needs of today’s communities.

“This year’s recipients embody Reverend Sullivan’s core principles of self-help, education, and economic justice, spanning across diverse academic institutions, fields of study, and entrepreneurial sectors,” said Portia Fullard, Executive Director of the Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust. “As we’ve refined our grantmaking strategy, we’ve been intentional about creating clear pathways to invest in students, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations. By building capacity, expanding access, and creating opportunity for lasting impact – these grants honor Reverend Sullivan’s legacy by preserving and continuing his work.”

Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust is proud of this cohort of academic and business leaders. For Philadelphia leaders seeking to get further involved with Reverend Leon H. Sullivan Trust’s legacy, there are additional grant opportunities opening soon. The Step Up Scholarship, for students, is currently open through September 11, 2026. The next round of Moving Mountains grant applications will open in early September. The next round of Pathways to Impact grant applications for nonprofits will open in the middle of October. All grants and scholarships from Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust operate on a bi-annual schedule, alternating Spring and Fall, every year.

Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust continues the legacy of Reverend Dr. Leon H. Sullivan by investing in education, economic opportunity, and community empowerment. Through scholarships, grantmaking, capacity-building, and community partnerships, the Trust creates pathways for individuals and organizations to strengthen their communities, advance self-help and self-sufficiency, and build lasting opportunities across Philadelphia.