The mission of PCAFPD is to create opportunities for former Peace Corps/Philippines Volunteers to stay engaged in Philippine development and with each other. We support Filipinos in need to earn university degrees and to create change in their communities. The founders chose education as the focus of the organization based on the conviction that motivated, knowledgeable, and skilled individuals are the key to community change and national development. They observed that too many high achieving high school students with significant financial need did not have the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential and decided the major strategy of the organization would be to award scholarships to bright but financially disadvantaged Filipinos. Selected applicants receive a full scholarship covering tuition, fees, books, and education related expenses for their undergraduate or graduate studies. They also receive a partial living allowance,. Scholars must maintain passing grades and comply with all requirements stipulated in the scholarship, including submission of grades and essays about their college experience each semester. In recent years, the Foundation has awarded over twelve new scholarships each year, and supports between forty and fifty-five scholars in a given year. To date, PCAFPD has supported more than 210 scholars as they complete university degrees; including several that have earned graduate degrees. PCAFPD is incorporated as a non-profit organization according to the laws of the District of Columbia and under Sec. 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. PCAFPD is the official Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) group for the Philippines and is an affiliate of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA).