Scholarship Awarded to Florida Atlantic Student on Anniversary of Flippen’s Untimely Passing
When Justin Flippen, the beloved late mayor of Wilton Manors, died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm last year, Our Fund Foundation swiftly launched the Justin Flippen Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor his enduring legacy.
To pay a fitting tribute and offer respects on the one-year anniversary of Flippen’s untimely passing on February 25, 2020, at the age of only 41, Our Fund Foundation will award the inaugural scholarship to Emily Miranda, a Political Science major at Florida Atlantic University. As the first recipient to receive the Justin Flippen Memorial Scholarship, Miranda has a proven record of community service and political activism combined with a passion for social justice. “Our Fund Foundation is honored to administer the Justin Flippen Memorial Fund which will help prepare future generations of leaders to follow in the footsteps of Justin’s thoughtful and passionate public service,” said David Jobin, president and CEO of Our Fund Foundation.
As Florida Atlantic University’s first openly gay Student President, Flippen went on to become Wilton Manors’ Mayor. His life and career in public service were guided by Thomas Jefferson’s foundational principle, “Governments are the servants, not the masters, of the people.”
“Ignorance serves as the fuel for gaps in social justice and equity, and the battle against it is lifelong,” said Miranda. “It is my honor to receive this scholarship in the name of Justin Flippen as it allows me to take a step further in learning about, confronting, and promoting equality and justice.”
Scholarships from the Justin Flippen Memorial Scholarship Fund will be awarded annually and in perpetuity in increments of $1,000. Our Fund Foundation will oversee the endowment which was created to provide financial support to Florida students who are aspiring to enter public service and pursuing a degree in political science or a related field. Preference will be given to students exhibiting interest in promoting LGBTQ+ equality.
Flippen’s parents remarked, “The recipient impresses me as she is an honors student in a similar place as Justin was at that time in his life. Justin would feel good about her determination, particularly as a first-generation student,” said Stephanie Flippen Chandler. With Jim Flippen recalling, “Justin always said a school is four walls with a roof and the future inside.”
Our Fund Foundation intends on continuing to raise monies for the Justin Flippen Memorial Scholarship Fund so the non-profit can increase and expand the number of future scholarships. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.Our-Fund.org/Justin_Memorial.
About Our Fund Foundation
Established in 2011, Our Fund Foundation has grown into the third largest LGBT foundation in the nation. As South Florida’s only LGBT community foundation, Our Fund promotes a culture of philanthropy by uniting donors with organizations; advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties; and supporting causes within the LGBT community. For more information on Our Fund Foundation, visit www.Our-Fund.org or call (954) 565-1090. Content and images courtesy of Pierson Grant PR.
