City Kids awards $26,000 in scholarships to Boston-area students

Boston, MA Thirteen local students are getting a $2,000 boost toward their college education after being selected as the 2026 recipients of the City Kids Scholarship.

City Kids, the youth education nonprofit founded by City Realty Group, hosted a scholarship award ceremony and meet-and-greet to celebrate the young men and women whose hard work and determination earned them scholarships this year. The students, along with their families, had an opportunity to meet with City Kids leaders, share their educational goals and celebrate the milestone together.

In total, City Kids awarded $26,000 in scholarships to help the students pay for tuition, books and other higher education expenses. The scholarship program has grown since launching in 2024, when City Kids awarded its first $10,000 in scholarships. Over the past three years, the program has expanded each year, helping 38 students with their college expenses to date, including five returning applicants. City Kids has now invested a total of $56,000 in the scholarship program.

As part of the scholarship program, the City Kids team will keep in close communication with the scholars, providing mentorship and support as each moves forward on their higher education journey.

“These scholarships are an investment in young people who are working hard to build a better future,” said Stephen Whalen, co-founder of City Kids. “What stood out at our ceremony was not just what these students have accomplished, but how much they want to accomplish. We’re proud to support them and help make their next step a little easier.”

The City Kids Scholarship program provides financial assistance to underserved students from Boston and surrounding urban communities who are planning to attend or are currently attending a college, university or accredited higher education program.

For Kael Susanto, a 2026 City Kids scholarship recipient, the award will help him pursue and achieve his higher educational goals.

“This is a blessing,” said Susanto. “Tuition is a heavy burden, especially when dealing with other life issues. This scholarship will be beneficial, allowing me to help my parents out and remain focused on school.”

The scholarship ceremony reflects City Kids’ bRd.er mission of creating educational opportunities for young people and helping remove financial barriers that can stand between students and their educational goals.

City Kids is a youth education nonprofit founded by City Realty Group managing partners Fred Starikov and Stephen Whalen to spark intellectual curiosity in the children of Boston and beyond by providing unique experiences and valuable educational resources. Through scholarships, educational programming and community initiatives, City Kids is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders and lifelong learners.