About the Ed Fund 

Click here for a list of our supporters in 2012.

Celebrating Our Scholars

On Thursday, April 25th, Rodrigo Flores stood up to address the crowd at the 6th Annual Richmond Young Scholars' Reception:

This fall, I will be attending UC Berkeley. Today, I have proven to all of you that odds are just a number,and that facts and statistics can be overcome with hard work and determination. I am standing in front of all you as a past drug addict and a former gang member that has finally reached this destination. And I can assure you, it's not my last stop.

Rodrigo Flores is a finalist for an Ed Fund scholarship, which supports the college ambitions of low-income West Contra Costa County youth. His story is an inspiration that encourages and challenges us to do all that is within our creative power to remove the internal and external barriers which hinder so many of our students from achieving their dreams. .

The Ed Fund is pleased and honored to support our scholarship finalists. This fall, the Ed Fund will disburse $230,000 in scholarships to enable more than 80 scholarship winners to attend colleges across California and the nation. Additionally, the Ed Fund's staff will be working closely with all scholarship winners to ensure their academic, social and emotional success.

We are extremely grateful to all of our supporters who have made our scholarship program possible. Their investment in our students' futuremakes it possible for Rodrigo and many others like him to pursue their dream of obtaining a college degree and creating a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. 

 

Get Your Summer On! at Pyramid Alehouse

Date: Thursday, June 13, 2013

Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Location: Pyramid Alehouse Berkeley, 901 Gilman Street, Berkeley

Tickets: $40, purchase at GetYourSummerOn.eventbrite.com

 

You are cordially invited to the Ed Fund's Get Your Summer On! fundraiser to benefit the students of West Contra Costa County. Guests will enjoy all-you-can-eat pizza and unlimited beer. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available, and all ages are welcome.

 

The event will support the Ed Fund's Out-of-School Time Initiative, which is working to increase the number and quality of after-school and summer learning programs available to West Contra Costa County youth.

For more information, visit GetYourSummerOn.org.

Scholar Track: We're On Our Way!

Ninety Ed Fund scholarship finalists will be attending the On Our Way! conference in San Francisco. This one-day pre-college program is designed to smooth the transition between high school and college.

 

Many of the Ed Fund's scholarship finalists are the first in their families to attain a post-secondary education. The Ed Fund is committed to supporting them throughout their first year to ensure their academic, social and emotional success.

 

We are proud to say that Ed Fund scholarship finalists will be attending colleges and universities all across the state and country, including California Community Colleges, California State Universities and the Universities of California. The Ed Fund is currently soliciting volunteers who could assist the Ed Fund with mentoring the students as they prepare for their college careers. If you would like to mentor a scholarship finalist who will attend your alma mater, please contact Nicole Arenal, Program Assistant, by emailing scholarships@edfundwest.org.

Program Focus: Out-of-School Time Initiative

The West County Out-of-School Time Collaborative is pleased to announce the launch of Get Your Summer On! It is an initiative to increase awareness of summer activities available to students in the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

 

The collaborative organization has developed the Summer Activity Guide, which assists parents and community members with matching students to summer programs in West Contra Costa County. English and Spanish versions of the summer activity guide can be found at http://GetYourSummerOn.org.

 

To support the Out-of-School Time collaborative organization, attend the Ed Fund's Summer Fundraiser! Proceeds will support the mission and vision of the collaborative, which works to increase the number and quality of summer and after-school programming in West Contra Costa County.

School Spotlight: Washington Elementary School

The Ed Fund would like to recognize the contributions of Ms. Saxton's 2nd grade classroom to our 25th Annual Excellence in Education Luncheon. The classroom embraced the spirit of volunteerism and created the beautiful centerpieces all of our guests enjoyed at their tables. The Washington Elementary students' contribution to the Ed Fund helped us raise money which will benefit local schools through our seven programs.

Teachers' Box: Buck-a-Month

Support the Ed Fund this school year by joining the Buck-a-Month Club! If you are a West Contra Costa Unified School District employee, complete this payroll deduction form. Even $1 a month makes an impact on the number of students we can serve.

Membership in the Buck-a-Month Club is growing. As of April 1st, we are up to 131 members. Help us reach 150 members by the end of the school year!