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What is The Jon-Alec Fund?
The Jon-Alec Fund is a nonprofit public charity that provides educational scholarships to young people pursuing certifications in three fields: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), wildland firefighting, and addiction counseling. It was founded in memory of Jon-Alec Chervin, an EMT and wildland firefighter/medic who had begun coursework to become a certified addiction counselor before his death in 2018.
The fund's stated purpose is to carry forward his interest in caring for people in crisis—particularly those facing mental health and addiction emergencies—by helping others enter the same kinds of service careers.
Who it's for
- Students seeking certification (rather than a full degree) in EMS, wildland firefighting, or addiction counseling
- People whose interests align with the fund's emphasis on outdoor work, personal responsibility, and helping others
How it differs from a typical scholarship fund
Its scope is narrow by design. Instead of awarding across many disciplines, it concentrates on three hands-on public-safety and behavioral-health roles, which makes it most relevant if your training path falls squarely in one of them.
For application steps, deadlines, and eligibility specifics, contact the organization directly through The Jon-Alec Fund.
How can I apply for a scholarship from The Jon-Alec Fund?
The Jon-Alec Fund's site describes its purpose as providing educational scholarships to young people pursuing certifications in Emergency Medical Services, wildland firefighting, and addiction counseling, but the page content does not include an application form, eligibility rules, deadlines, or a contact address. So the practical answer is: you cannot apply from the information shown here alone.
What to do next
- Look for a "Scholarships," "Apply," or "Contact" page on the same site, since the homepage mainly tells Jon-Alec's story and the fund's mission.
- If no application page exists, use the organization's published contact channel to ask directly. Ask three things: who is eligible, what documents are required (proof of enrollment, program acceptance, references), and the review timeline.
- Prepare your materials in advance so you can respond quickly once you have the requirements.
A realistic applicant scenario
Suppose you are a high school graduate enrolled in an EMT certification program and also applying to a wildland fire academy. You would likely need to show acceptance or enrollment, explain your career goal in one page, and provide at least one reference who can speak to your commitment. Because the fund names three distinct fields, your statement should connect your plan to one of them rather than describing general public service.
Decision criteria
- Fit: Your program should lead to certification in EMS, wildland firefighting, or addiction counseling, matching the fund's stated focus.
- Stage: The fund describes supporting young people seeking certifications, so applicants early in training are the natural audience.
- Verification: Confirm every requirement with the organization itself. Treat any deadline or amount you see elsewhere as unverified unless the fund publishes it.
For context on the fields involved, the national EMS scope of practice is maintained by NASEMSO, wildland fire training standards are published by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, and addiction counseling credentialing varies by state, often through boards affiliated with NAADAC. These are general reference points, not part of the fund's application process.
What can I do to support The Jon-Alec Fund's mission?
The Jon-Alec Fund supports scholarships for young people training in Emergency Medical Services, wildland firefighting, and addiction counseling — the three fields Jon-Alec Chervin himself worked or was preparing to enter. Your support therefore goes toward certification costs for students who might otherwise not be able to afford them.
Ways to help
- Donate. A memorial fund of this kind typically lives on small and mid-sized gifts rather than large endowments, so a one-time or recurring contribution is the most direct form of support. Check the site's own giving page for current options.
- Contribute in someone's name. A gift made in memory or in honor of an EMT, firefighter, or counselor is a natural fit here, and it can introduce the fund to people who never knew Jon-Alec.
- Share the mission. The page itself asks visitors to "Share" and "Learn more." Passing the link to a fire department, ambulance service, or treatment program puts it in front of the people most likely to know a candidate for a scholarship.
- Point students to it. If you teach, supervise, or work alongside someone pursuing an EMT certification, a wildland firefighter pack test, or a counseling credential, tell them the fund exists.
- Ask about volunteering or skills. Small charities often need help with outreach, event organizing, or professional expertise as much as money. Ask directly rather than assuming.
Matching your support to the cause
| If you want to… | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Honor someone with a EMS or fire background | Memorial or tribute gift |
| Help a specific student | Ask whether scholarships can be designated by field |
| Give without money | Share the fund with training programs and departments |
| Give regularly | Recurring donation, if offered |
A practical next step
Decide which of the three fields matters most to you — EMS, wildland firefighting, or addiction counseling — then reach out through the fund's contact page and ask how gifts are directed and whether you can specify a field. That one question tells you whether your money will land where you intend.
For context on the organizations these graduates typically join, you can look at National Fire Protection Association for wildland and structural fire standards, National Association of EMTs for the EMS profession, and NAADAC for addiction counseling credentials.
What types of training programs does The Jon-Alec Fund fund?
The Jon-Alec Fund supports training that leads to certification in three public-safety and behavioral-health fields:
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) — training toward EMT and related emergency medical credentials.
- Wildland Firefighting — certification for firefighters and medics who work on wildland incidents.
- Addiction Counseling — coursework and certification for people preparing to counsel those with substance-use disorders.
The fund frames this as scholarships for young people pursuing these careers, continuing Jon-Alec Chervin's own path as a Denver EMT, a wildland firefighter/medic, and a student of addiction counseling.
Next step: If you're considering applying, check the site's "Learn more" and community sections for current scholarship details, eligibility and deadlines, then gather proof of enrollment or acceptance in an accredited EMS, wildland fire, or addiction-counseling program.
Who is eligible for The Jon-Alec Fund scholarships?
The Jon-Alec Fund does not publish detailed eligibility rules on its site. It describes its purpose as providing educational scholarships to young people pursuing careers in Emergency Medical Services, Wildland Firefighting and Addiction Counseling, and says it aims to fund young people with convictions similar to Jon-Alec's, including a love and respect for nature.
What that suggests about likely applicants
- Students seeking certifications (rather than only four-year degrees) in EMS, wildland firefighting or addiction counseling.
- Younger applicants who are early in their training or career path.
- People who can show a genuine commitment to service, outdoors work and helping others.
Those are reasonable inferences from the stated mission, not confirmed criteria. The page does not list age limits, residency requirements, enrollment status, GPA, citizenship or financial need.
How to check before applying
Treat the mission statement as a starting point and confirm the specifics directly. The most reliable step is to use the fund's own contact route and ask for the current scholarship guidelines, deadline and required documents. If you are advising a student, have them prepare a short statement linking their training plans to EMS, wildland firefighting or addiction counseling, plus a reference who can speak to their character and service.
For context on the fields involved, professional bodies such as NAEMT and NAADAC explain certification pathways in EMS and addiction counseling, which can help applicants describe their goals clearly.
How does The Jon-Alec Fund honor Jon-Alec Chervin's legacy?
The Jon-Alec Fund honors Jon-Alec Chervin by turning his personal commitments into scholarships. According to the organization's own page, it is a non-profit public charity that provides educational scholarships to young people pursuing certifications in Emergency Medical Services, Wildland Firefighting and Addiction Counseling — the three fields where Jon-Alec worked or was preparing to work.
The fund's stated purpose is to continue what the page calls his mission of caring: supporting students who share his convictions, his love and respect for nature, and his intention to give back through hands-on service. The page describes his own path as an EMT in Denver, a wildland firefighter/medic across the West, and a student beginning coursework to become a certified addiction counselor, with a particular instinct for patients facing mental health emergencies.
What a scholarship gift actually supports
- EMS training — certification paths for people who want to work on ambulances and in emergency response.
- Wildland firefighting — training for the physically demanding, seasonal work of fighting fires in remote terrain.
- Addiction counseling — credentialing for people who want to help others through recovery.
These are relatively short, practical certification programs rather than long academic degrees, which means a donation can move a student toward employment fairly directly.
A concrete scenario
Imagine a student who has finished a wilderness first-responder course and wants to work a fire season but cannot cover the cost of the required training and gear. A scholarship from a fund like this can close that gap. The same applies to someone working nights while studying for an addiction-counseling credential.
If you want to help
Check the fund's own site for current scholarship criteria, application details and donation options before giving or applying: The Jon-Alec Fund. If you are a student, confirm which certifications and expenses the fund covers and what documentation it asks for; if you are a donor, ask how recipients are selected and whether gifts can be directed to one of the three fields.
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