Tampa, Fla. – Today, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) announced that it is now accepting applications for the 2015 Your Weight Matters National Convention Scholarship Program – a program that helps those in financial need attend the OAC’s ground-breaking educational Convention, set to take place August 13-16 in San Antonio, Texas. This year, the Convention Scholarship Program will continue to award full and partial scholarships to individuals who submit an application by the deadline date – Tuesday, March 31.

Launched in 2014, the Convention Scholarship Program awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships for individuals to attend the 3rd Annual Convention. For 2015, the OAC aims to match and award more scholarships to help individuals attend YWM2015. Applications are evaluated based on three areas of criteria: Statement of Financial Need; Impact of Obesity on Your Life; and Your Intent for Attending the Your Weight Matters Convention.

This year’s Convention, Our Journey – Restore. Refresh. Renew., will offer the everyday individual concerned with weight and health the latest evidence-based strategies to help them in their journey. The OAC’s Convention attracts more than 500 attendees from across the country and welcomes the country’s leading experts to deliver more than 40 educational topics, all designed to help the everyday individual in their journey toward improved weight and health.

“We know the journey of battling obesity is often a difficult one paved with many pitfalls. The OAC is proud to once again offer the Convention Scholarship Program, an initiative designed to help individuals attend Convention and receive access to the latest evidence-based information on weight, health and more,” said Michelle Vicari, OAC Convention Committee Chair.

In its first year, the Convention Scholarship Program received more than $100,000 in requested funds from individuals throughout the United States. “We were completely astonished in 2014 at the response we received to the program. We quickly realized that this was a tremendous public need, and we are very excited and proud to be able to offer this philanthropic program again this year,” said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO.

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), a nearly 50,000 member-strong National nonprofit organization, is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by the disease of obesity through education, advocacy and support.