The Live Your Dream Foundation continues its mission to provide educational opportunities for single mothers in Utah, offering scholarships designed to help women increase their earning potential and better provide for their children through college, university, or technical programs.
Scholarship eligibility requirements
The foundation's scholarship program serves women who are single, widowed, divorced, or separated. To qualify for funding, applicants must have physical custody of children under the age of 18, or children over 18 who are still attending high school. The foundation also accepts applications from those who are the sole adult in their household or reside with relatives.
Application guidelines and residency rules
According to the foundation's application guidelines, all applicants must be residents of Utah at the time of application, though they may attend online courses outside of the state. Applicants are required to be graduates of an accredited high school or hold a GED and must demonstrate financial need by completing or attempting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The foundation stated that even those who do not qualify for FAFSA are still welcome to apply.
Funding amounts and disbursement details
The scholarship amounts range from $500 to $3,000, with funds paid directly to the student's educational institution for both fall and winter/spring semesters. The foundation allows recipients the opportunity to be reconsidered for scholarships across multiple semesters.
Important 2026 academic deadlines
For the 2026 academic year, the foundation established specific deadlines. An application deadline of April 10, 2026, was set for students seeking support for that period, with recipients being notified by May 10, 2026. Scholarships for the 2026 fall semester were scheduled to be awarded on July 20, 2026. For the 2026-2027 winter and spring semester, the application deadline was set for November 1, 2026, with notifications sent by November 20, 2026, and awards issued on December 10, 2026.
Foundation history and origin story
The Live Your Dream Foundation was established in 2010 by David Young, the founder and president of Paragon Wealth Management, along with his daughter Katie Bunnell and Shannon Golladay. The organization's origin is rooted in a personal family tragedy; following the unexpected death of Byron Bunnelle in 2005, his wife Katie was left to care for their three-month-old daughter.
Founder's personal motivation for mission
Seeking ways to pursue her own bachelor's degree while navigating single motherhood, Bunnell found difficulty locating scholarships tailored to her specific situation. She eventually completed her degree at Utah Valley University in two and a half years. The foundation now serves as a way to provide the support she once sought for other single mothers in the community.
The foundation operates with a unique financial structure where 100% of all funds raised are directed toward benefiting single mothers in Utah. The organization is primarily volunteer-operated, featuring only one part-time employee whose wages are donated. To cover the costs of running the organization, Paragon Wealth Management donates all necessary funds for overhead expenses.
Bunnell, who manages the foundation as a labor of love, credits the support of her family—including her husband Devin Bunnell and her four children—as well as the efforts of dedicated board members for the foundation's continued success.
To support its mission, the foundation held a golf tournament on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Sleepy Ridge Golf Course in Orem. The event, which featured an 18-hole course designed to evoke a traditional Scottish links experience along Utah Lake, included a schedule of registration, a shotgun start, and an awards ceremony.
The tournament served as a platform to award scholarships to recipients selected from the April 10 application cycle. Sponsorship opportunities for the event ranged from $300 for hole sponsors to $2,500 for scholarship sponsors, the latter of which included green fees for four players and the opportunity to personally award a scholarship during the ceremony.
The foundation continues to encourage community members to spread the word about its mission. In addition to corporate sponsorships, the organization accepts merchandise, gift certificates, and cash donations to support its ongoing efforts to empower single-mother families through education.
