Nancy Merolla Humanitarian Scholarship encourages young people to make a difference

Coral Springs, Florida – Service, compassion, and leadership have been the cornerstones of Nancy Merolla’s career as a community development officer at Synovus Bank and a citizen of Coral Springs.

The South Florida Wellness Network, a nonprofit organization she co-founded, has created the Nancy Merolla Humanitarian Scholarship in her honor in acknowledgment of her significant efforts.

Regarding the announcement, Merolla told Coral Springs Talk that her mother’s volunteer efforts had ignited her love for community service at a young age.

Merolla recounted, “I was very young when I watched my mother at the kitchen table in the early morning hours, typing endlessly on a typewriter.” As a volunteer for a nearby center, she was transcribing books into Braille for blind children, thus nothing was visible on the paper. My life has always included giving back.

Early inspiration, in Merolla’s opinion, spurred a career in which she has continuously used her leadership positions to change the world. Most recently, she was the leader of community involvement initiatives in five states at Synovus Bank. She remarked, “I genuinely think that when you lead, people will see your passion and follow.”

Merolla received funding from the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition to co-found SFWN in 2014. The group offers adults and kids in Broward and Miami-Dade counties peer-driven recovery support programs. Merolla clarified, “Our goal is to be a peer-driven recovery community organization that supports holistic wellness and behavioral health for youth, adults, and families.”

From a grassroots project with no personnel, the network has expanded to include over 85 workers and an annual budget of $7 million. According to Merolla, “this demonstrates the need for services and support for our youth and adults living within our communities.”

The $1,000 Nancy Merolla Humanitarian Scholarship is intended to help Broward and Miami-Dade County students who show empathy, resiliency, and a dedication to volunteerism. Merolla called the honor, which was given during SFWN’s 10-year celebration, Butterflies and Bridges, a humble surprise.

“I am a supporter of Mayor Scott Brook of Coral Springs and a member of his founding organization, Mental Wellness Coalition, so it was a great honor to have him as a guest,” Merolla said.

Similar to her mother’s teachings, Merolla inspires youth to pursue their passions and engage in volunteer work. Merolla sees the scholarship expanding through donations and collaborations with educational foundations. “A great way to do this is to search the internet for listings of local organizations, contact the agencies to ask about attending local events, and then ask how you can assist,” she says. “To increase the first year of donations, the SFWN community team is contacting donors, educational foundations, and community funds,” she said.

Merolla advises anyone who wants to learn more or help SFWN to visit www.sfwn.org or call the administrative offices at (954) 533-0585.