We had the joy of awarding the 35 winners of the DAR Scholarships during the Gala held on the evening of November 6, 2025, at the National Bank of Romania Palace. Now in its fourth edition, the DAR Scholarships Gala is an event dedicated to celebrating the excellence and talent of vulnerable children in Romania.
Through the DAR Scholarships program, this year we support 35 pupils and students who excel in fields such as art, sports, science, and education, each receiving a €2,000 scholarship as well as personal development opportunities. Among them are national computer science Olympiad winners, young talents in fine arts or music, and national and international champions in tennis, karate, and athletics. Behind these achievements lie moving life stories marked by material hardship, the loss of a parent, or illness.
During the Gala, the scholars received the Hope Trophy from rowing Florin și Maria Lehaci, Florin Enache, Magdalena Rusu, Mihai Chiruță and Amalia Bereș, while David Popovici presented them with symbolic medals from his own career.
David Popovici, Ambassador of Hope and Homes for Children, has been supporting the scholars and actively involved in the program for several years. This year, he dedicated his birthday to them, raising over €130,000 for the next generation of exceptional children.
”My athletic achievements are due partly to my work and skills, and partly to the moral and material support I’ve received from my family, team, and partners. I don’t believe a child can reach their true potential without both of these conditions. That’s why the DAR Scholarships represent such essential support for these very talented and hardworking young people. I’m honored to be part of this mission.” is the message of David Popovici, Ambassador of Hope and Homes for Children., este mesajul lui David Popovici, Ambasador al Hope and Homes for Children.
The evening ended with a special moment: one of the scholarship recipients, a student at the Dinu Lipatti National College of Arts, performed together with AMI (Andreea Moldovan), her favorite artist, who surprised her by joining her on stage.
„The DAR Scholarships are not just financial aid. They are a promise — a promise that we will not let the talent and dreams of extraordinary children fade because of hardship. This year, 35 exceptional young people have shown us that vulnerability can turn into strength, pain into motivation, and scarcity into ambition. In each of them, we saw a light — a spark that reminds us why we do what we do. When we listen to them, when we learn their stories, we truly understand the meaning of courage. Through these scholarships, we want to offer not just resources, but confidence. Not just support, but a path. Because the future we need lies in the eyes of these children. And at Hope and Homes for Children, we believe that if we reach out to them today, tomorrow they will be the ones to change the world,”, declares Ștefan Dărăbuș, National Director Hope and Homes for Children România.
The DAR Scholarships are made possible thanks to partners who have taken on the mission of supporting the education and development of young people in Romania Alliance Healthcare, Banca Transilvania, Concentrix, Deutsche Bank Global Technology, Fundația Țiriac, Penny România, Robital Industrial Supplier.
