The late Jonathan R. Lax was an entrepreneur, inventor, and proud gay man who fought to win civil rights for all LGBTQ people. In 1994, he established this scholarship fund at Bread & Roses Community Fund to encourage other gay men to pursue higher education, contribute to society through activism, and be out about their sexual orientation.
The Jonathan Lax Scholarship Committee awards $5,000-$10,000 college scholarships to scholars who:
- identify as gay men AND
- graduated from a high school in the Philadelphia region (Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties) and are enrolled at an accredited college, graduate, or professional school in the United States; OR
- graduated from a high school outside the region and are enrolled at an accredited college, graduate, or professional school in the Philadelphia region.
For more questions, please contact lax@breadrosesfund.org.
Apply for the Jonathan Lax Scholarship for Gay Men
The deadline to apply for the Jonathan Lax Scholarship was Monday, December 2, 2024.
Information Session
A virtual information session was held on Tuesday, November 12. To watch a recording of the session, please click here.
Sign Up for Updates
Join the Jonathan Lax Scholarship for Gay Men mailing list to receive news and updates about the scholarship fund.
2023 Jonathan Lax Scholars
Jack Bachman is a high school student at North Penn High School. Jack plans to study history and communications as an undergraduate.
Spencer Brown is a graduate student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a Master of Social Work. Spencer is a medical case manager at Action Wellness, an organization that provides care management services for people living with HIV/AIDS. His goal is to become a licensed social worker, and eventually get a clinical license to do direct practice, group facilitation, and one on one therapy with LGBTQ+ individuals.
Steven Chen is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing a degree in health and societies. He hopes to become a family medicine physician and work in a clinic that serves the LGBTQ+ community, particularly gay men, and those with intersecting marginalized identities.
Tim Lam is an undergraduate at University of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After graduating in 2023, he plans to pursue a graduate nursing degree in Psychiatric and Mental Health. Steven works on projects to help gay men be comfortable with their sexuality, prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS, and help those with psychological issues and suicidal ideations.
Xandro Xu is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. He aspires to a career in healthcare and public health and hopes to someday form a clinic to increase access and quality of healthcare for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
David Yu is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania where he is pursuing a Doctor in Nursing Science degree. David aspires to better train healthcare staff about LGBTQ+ health and well-being and to establish organizational-level policies that support and affirm members of the LGBTQ+ community.
2022 Jonathan Lax Scholars
Daniel Bracy is a graduate student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a degree in public health. Daniel’s professional goal is to be involved in health equity research and implementation, especially within the LGBTQ+ and African American communities.
Dennis Dumpson is a graduate student at the University of San Diego, where he is pursuing a PhD in education for social justice. He’s a published author with a focus on the Black student experience between high school and college. Professionally he is an anti-bias and racial equity consultant.
Rafael Febo is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing a degree in applied sciences in literature culture and tradition. Raphael is a community leader who has worked at Youth United for Change, the Norris Square Neighborhood Project, the office of councilmember Mario Quiñones Sanchez, and the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs.
João Nery Fiocchi Rodrigues is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing a PhD in sociology. He plans to build on his experience with the law and social science as a legal practitioner and scholar of human rights issues.
Vincent Pepe is a graduate student at Thomas Jefferson University, pursuing a doctorate of medicine and masters in public health. His focus is on health disparities that disproportionately affect gender and sexual minorities, especially those who are transgender/gender non-conforming, queer people of color, and elderly LGBTQ+ people.
Carper Wiggins is an undergraduate student at Muhlenberg College, where he is planning to pursue a degree in business administration. Carper was the president of the Council Rock South High School’s gender & sexuality alliance where he organized and promoted club events to raise awareness and support the school’s LGTBQ+ community.
2021 Jonathan Lax Scholars
Hoa Vo is a graduate student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a degree in public health. An international student from Vietnam, Hoa balances full-time course work with student worker positions as a peer tutor and administrative assistant. He is very involved in his school’s Queer Student Union and is passionate about creating an open and inclusive campus environment for all students.
Andreas Copes is a student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism. He helped create the first LGBTQ+ news show for Temple University students in the hopes of better representing the experiences of LGBTQ+ people on campus and shining a spotlight on their “beautiful queer family.”
Cory Seals is an undergraduate student at the University of the Arts, where he is pursuing a degree in vocal performance. He has engaged in advocacy and cultural enrichment programs for Black youth, peer mentorship, community service, and activism. Throughout his life, he has seen art and activism mix to uplift others and combat oppression. He hopes to become a curator of Black, queer art spaces.
Corey Dennison is a graduate of West Chester State University, where he pursued a BA in Women and Gender Studies with minors in Anthropology, Geography, and African American Literature. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in healthcare ethics from Duquesne University. In addition to his course work, Corey is involved in radical organizing and activism around labor, poverty, and other issues.
2020 Jonathan Lax Scholars
Matt Falsetta is a graduate student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a masters in Secondary Education – K-12 World Languages. While attending graduate school, he works as a Spanish Teacher at Mayfair School in Philadelphia where he is honored to represent the LGBTQ community in a K-12 urban setting.
Daniel Mack is a graduate student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where he is pursuing a masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Throughout his life he has led student organizations that support the LGBTQIA community, and he now mentors Philadelphia youth.
Bryce Nguyen is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing a BA in Economics. After experiencing first-hand the vigil after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in his hometown of Orlando, FL on the night before the anniversary of his coming out, Bryce was inspired to dive into LGBT life on campus, working with the on-campus LGBT community as well as campus administrators to make a safer space and break down stigmas.
Maddox O’Rourke is graduating from an international high school in Japan, after which he hopes to study international relations or psychology in college. As a queer and transgender man, Maddox has worked within his school’s Rainbow Alliance to restructure club leadership and open campus-wide discussions with each dormitory regarding sexuality and gender. He has also worked to found an organization called Project Koe which works to give voice to the LGBTQ+ community in Karuizawa emphasizing marriage equality and bullying prevention.
Julian Roberson is a graduate student in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he is pursuing a masters in Business Administration. After growing up in a hyper-masculine family, Julian first got involved in an LGBTQ affinity group at his workplace, where he arranged sponsorship for DC Black Pride. He is now working in his university’s LGBTQ affinity group to build workshops and provide resources for marginalized communities that are working to penetrate homogenous organizations.