Chick-fil-Aannounces a new initiative that will more than double the company's investment in Team Members' college educations – providing $4.9 million in scholarships in 2017 alone, as well as access to tuition discounts and other benefits at more than 70 colleges and universities nationwide.  While Chick-fil-A has offered scholarships for more than 40 years, the enhanced initiative, called Remarkable Futures, increases the amount of funding per recipient, allowing students to receive up to $25,000 in scholarships to be applied at any accredited institution of their choice, including online and on-campus formats, and can be combined with tuition discounts and other educational benefits at participating institutions.

This investment in Chick-fil-A Team Members represents a significant, industry-leading initiative, both in the number of scholarships given (more than 1,850 expected in 2017) and total financial investment in Team Members ($4.9 million). Chick-fil-A scholarship recipients have the flexibility to apply the funds at the traditional campus or online institution of the student's choice, and there is also no length-of-service requirement associated with eligibility. Because the goal of this initiative is to build community leaders, scholarships will be awarded based on factors like leadership and community involvement, in addition to academic achievement.

"For some team members, working in a Chick-fil-A restaurant is just a season of their life. We want to help them achieve their dreams and equip them with the tools to do it," said Rodney Bullard, vice president of Community Affairs at Chick-fil-A and executive director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation. "We're thrilled to be able to offer team members the opportunity to advance themselves at the institute of higher learning of their choice."

Starting January 2, 2017, eligible Chick-fil-A Team Members can apply for any of three new educational assistance opportunities:

• Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship: In 2017, 1,850 students will have an opportunity to receive a $2,500 scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year, with the ability to re-apply for up to four years – for a potential total of up to $10,000 for college while working at a Chick-fil-A restaurant. These scholarships will be awarded to Chick-fil-A Team Members based on leadership, academic achievement and community involvement.

  While this scholarship is not new (Chick-fil-A has awarded $36 million in scholarships since 1973), the amount has more than doubled from the previous scholarship, which offered $1,000 and was non-renewable.

• True Inspiration Scholarship: In 2017, 12 students will have an opportunity to receive an individual, one-time award of up to $25,000. These scholarships will be awarded to Chick-fil-A Team Members based on leadership, academic achievement, community involvement and demonstrated financial need.

• Educational Assistance Opportunities: In addition to scholarships, Chick-fil-A is offering Team Members access to tuition discounts and other educational benefits at more than 70 colleges and universities across the country, which can be combined with either of the above scholarships. Opportunities and eligibility vary by school, but educational benefits include tuition discounts up to 30 percent and are effective immediately. For a full list of participating schools, visit www.chick-fil-a.com/scholarships.

To be eligible for these opportunities, applicants must be employed as a Team Member by a Chick-fil-A Franchisee, a Chick-fil-A, Inc.-operated restaurant, or an STC brand restaurant.

Chick-fil-A, Inc. began awarding scholarships to Team Members in 1973 based on founder S. Truett Cathy's desire to incentivize Team Members to further their education. Since then, nearly 36,000 Team Members have received scholarships from Chick-fil-A, Inc., bringing the total amount to nearly $36 million applied at more than 3,000 schools nationwide.