After the decision to dissolve the Youth Services Network (YSN) of Southwestern Ohio in 2013, and after 32 years of service to the Dayton community, the thought of endowing a scholarship at Sinclair in the name of founder Rita M. McManus Howard was born.
In July, 2014 the YSN Board unanimously agreed to establish the Rita M. McManus Howard Scholarship Fund to honor Rita for her years of service to foster children of the Dayton community. The Youth Services Network was founded in June of 1982 by Rita and was licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to work with abused, neglected, drug addicted and unruly children. The scholarship will help students who have a financial need with a preference given to students who have been under the supervision of the foster care system in Ohio. The YSN board hopes that this assistance will help foster children emancipate smoothly from the system.