By Milton Kirby | Dallas, TX | February 10, 2025

Chuck Burch has been on a mission to transform lives through education for more than two decades. As of December 31, 2024, the Chuck Burch Scholarship Fund (CBSF) has awarded over $315,000 in scholarships to more than 200 students and organizations, helping young minds access higher education opportunities they might not have otherwise had.

The CBSF was founded in 2000, and its guiding principle is clear: “To invoke the wheels of change in a young person’s life by providing them access to resources that make higher education an attainable goal.” More than just a scholarship fund, CBSF advocates for education, guiding students through the financial aid process and helping them navigate college. Thanks to Burch’s leadership, the foundation has cultivated relationships with high schools, colleges, and universities nationwide, making it easier for students to secure funding, connect with prospective institutions, and, in many cases, get recruited.

A Personal Journey of Resilience and Determination

 

Burch’s passion for education is deeply personal. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, in a single-parent household as the oldest of three children, he faced financial hardships early on. Neither of his parents completed college, but his mother instilled in him the importance of academic excellence and athletics.

His college journey began with limited financial resources, forcing him to apply strategically to schools that waived application fees. He was accepted into Howard University and Florida A&M University. He received full scholarships from Morehouse College and North Carolina A&T State University. When North Carolina A&T personally reached out to recruit him, he felt valued and ultimately chose to attend the university—a decision that would shape his future.

After graduating, Burch entered the corporate world, landing an internship at Arthur Andersen and a full-time position at KPMG in Texas. However, when the economy took a downturn, he and his entire entry class were laid off. With no clear path forward, he took short-term jobs—swiping credit cards overnight to test machines, picking up highway trash, and doing anything necessary to stay afloat.

Turning Setbacks into Success

 

Unemployment challenges led Burch to an important realization: financial stability required multiple income streams. In 1983, after being laid off, he partnered with a colleague to offer bookkeeping and tax preparation services from a kitchen table. By 2003, after another layoff, he was ready to commit to entrepreneurship fully.

Encouraged by a client who told him, “Now you have more time for me,” Burch launched The Burch Financial Group (BFG), a tax, financial advisory, and wealth management firm. BFG provides tax and financial planning services to individuals and small businesses, helping clients navigate investments, retirement, education funding, tax planning, risk management, and estate strategies.

Giving Back: The Birth of CBSF

 

Despite his financial success, Burch never forgot the impact of his college scholarship. He committed to giving back in honor of North Carolina A&T’s role in his life. What began as a small golf tournament among friends grew into a nationwide scholarship initiative fueled by Burch’s love of roller skating and golf. Through annual roller-skating parties and golf tournaments, CBSF raises between $20,000 and $25,000 annually to support aspiring college students.

The Mission of CBSF

 

CBSF is dedicated to fostering “Education for the Next Generation” through college scholarships, financial education, mentoring, career development, and community engagement. With the support of volunteers, businesses, corporate sponsors, and the wider community, CBSF provides much-needed resources to students striving for a brighter future.

The foundation currently serves students and families in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and roller-skating and golfing communities across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. With a growing presence in the national roller-skating community, CBSF is reaching more students than ever before. Many recipients have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs, corporate managers, and professionals, often citing their CBSF scholarship as the financial bridge that made college possible.

Scholarship Details

 

Each year, CBSF awards a scholarship to a student from the Dallas/Fort Worth area who has been accepted as an incoming freshman at North Carolina A&T State University. The scholarship is awarded in two payments—half in the fall and half in the spring of the student’s first year—and is not renewable.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a graduating high school senior in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
• Must have been accepted to North Carolina A&T State University.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must not be receiving a full academic or athletic scholarship to NCA&T.
• Must demonstrate financial need as evaluated by the scholarship committee.
• Selection is based on a combination of academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and financial need.

A Passion for Roller Skating and Community Building

 

Beyond financial planning and philanthropy, Burch has a personal passion—roller skating. He frequently hosts skating events to fundraise for CBSF, bringing together communities while supporting needy students.

“I love roller skating. It’s my favorite recreational activity,” Burch says, emphasizing how his interests fuel his ability to give back.

Prospective applicants can find more details and apply through the following platforms:

• Website: www.ChuckBurchcfp.com | www.ChuckBurchScholarshipFund.org
• Instagram: @chuck1982
• Facebook: Chuck Burch
• Twitter: @ChuckBurchCPA
• YouTube: Chuck Burch Channel

Through education, mentorship, and his passions for roller skating and golf, Chuck Burch continues to change lives—one scholarship at a time