2009 Beat the Odds Awards Dinner

Thank You!
For Making the 2009 Beat the Odds
Awards Dinner a Great Success!

Nominate a Student for the Beat the Odds Scholarship

Download the Beat the Odds Application (PDF)
Download the Beat the Odds Application (Word Doc)

Four who Beat the Odds: The 2009 BTO Scholarship winners are (left to right) Michael Roberts, Max Wirt, Kia Lor, and Edwin Rosas. They received their scholarships and awards from St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Four Exceptional Young People Celebrated at 2009 "Beat The Odds" Awards Dinner

Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota celebrated four deserving Twin Cities young people as the 2009 recipients of CDF's "Beat the Odds" Scholarships. Each one told their inspiring stories at CDF-Minnesota's 17th annual Beat the Odds Awards Dinner on Thursday, March 12 at the Depot in Minneapolis.

Read their Inspiring Stories

The four, Max Wirt of Minneapolis, and Michael Roberts, Kia Lor, and Edwin Rosas, all of St. Paul received their awards from Mayors R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis, and Chris Coleman of St. Paul, and CDF President and Founder Marian Wright Edelman gave the keynote address. Minnesota Public Radio personality Kerri Miller was emcee of the event.

About Beat the Odds
Children's Defense Fund Minnesota's Beat the Odds program is an annual awards dinner honoring four local high school seniors who have have overcome exceptional challenges to become personally and academically successful. Past honorees have gone on to graduate college and become successful personally, academically, and in their careers.

The four high school seniors honored will be chosen from a list of nominees, and will receive a scholarship to further their education. The life stories of these young people are often heart wrenching, and their courage a strength are an inspiration to all who attend the event. A silent auction kicks off the Beat the Odds dinner each year and is the major fundraising effort of CDF Minnesota.

Beat the Odds 2008
Beat the Odds 2007
Beat the Odds 2006