A Lifetime of Care: How One Snow Scholar’s Brother Shaped Her Future

by Faran Fagen July 2, 2026

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A Lifetime of Care: How One Snow Scholar's Brother Shaped Her Future 4

Beatrice Cardoso {courtesy}

Recent Marjory Stoneman Douglas graduate Beatrice Cardoso, who’s heading to the University of Florida to study Nutritional Sciences on a pre-med track, just received a much-needed scholarship toward her academic goals.

Cardoso first learned about the George Snow Scholarship Fund during a financial literacy class in which she and her peers were developing college financial plans. Encouraged by the discovery, she applied and ultimately received the scholarship.

Reflecting on the experience of applying for the scholarship, Beatrice always maintained a hopeful outlook.

While she knew she could greatly benefit from the financial support, she “told myself that if I didn’t get the scholarship, I knew that someone else who needed it more would get it.”

Beatrice was awarded the Davidowitz Family Caregiving Youth Scholarship for her role as a caregiver to her older brother, Joao, whom she calls a gift and the foundation of her family. The amount of the scholarship was not disclosed.

Ever since she can remember, Beatrice has helped care for her older brother, who has cerebral palsy. From assisting with feeding and medications to monitoring seizures, caregiving has been a constant part of her life. Because her brother is unable to walk or speak, he cannot communicate his needs or care for himself independently.

While the responsibility can be challenging at times, it has also shaped Beatrice into the person she is today. She recalls moments when she was studying for an exam and would hear her brother calling out from another room. In those moments, she said it would be easy to focus on her own stress, but she always remembered that he could not tell others what he needed. He could be in pain, uncomfortable, or experiencing a medical issue and calling for help.

The experience has given Beatrice a deeper sense of empathy, attentiveness, and compassion for others. “I’m so happy I was able to learn so much at such a young age from my brother,” she said.

The George Snow Scholarship Fund (GSSF) marked a historic milestone this year, awarding more than $2.7 million in scholarships and Scholar Support Services to over 130 deserving students in Broward County, the largest investment in Broward students in the organization’s history.

The George Snow Scholarship Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping deserving students pursue their dreams of higher education.

The Fund is committed to ensuring that no student is denied the opportunity to attend college due to financial constraints. In 2026, the George Snow Scholarship Fund awarded more than $7.5 million in scholarships and Scholar Support Services to over 470 local students in South Florida.

To learn more about the George Snow Scholarship Fund, please visit Scholarship.org.

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Author Profile

Faran Fagen

Faran Fagen, who teaches high school journalism, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Journalism degree and from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Education. He's worked at The Palm Beach Post, SunSentinel, and MLB.com. He lives in Coral Springs with his wife and two children. Oh, and his three dogs -- who all think that they're his favorite.