COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SONOMA COUNTY AWARDS 109
SCHOLARSHIPS TO AREA STUDENTS
For Immediate Release
Contact: Gloria Duncan 707/579-4073

Santa Rosa, CA — August 15, 2002 – Scholarships ranging from $200 to $50,000 were recently awarded to Sonoma county high school and college students by the Community Foundation Sonoma County. A total of $247,050 was distributed from 17 scholarship funds established at the Community Foundation.

“According to scholarship coordinator Dana Johnson, 366 applications were received for the 109 available scholarships.

Students from high schools in Cloverdale, Forestville, Geyserville, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, Tomales and Windsor received scholarships as well as reentry and college students from Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University. Two Ukiah High School students were recipients of the Richard T. Torkelson Memorial Fund for Journalism scholarships and a St. Helena High School senior received the Kirsten Venge Memorial Scholarship.

The largest number of scholarships were given by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which gave 17 awards totaling $15,000, and 100 Black Men, who awarded 14 scholarships totaling $12,500. The Charles DeMeo Scholarship Fund awarded one $15,000 scholarship and the Richard T. Torkelson Memorial Fund for Journalism gave eight scholarships amounting to $8,500. Other scholarship funds include the Jay Deaton Memorial ($800 for two scholarships); Helen Kellum ($3,500 for four scholarships); Patriot’s Organization ($1,300 for two scholarship); Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council ($900 for two scholarships); Carlisle Van Ornum/H.E.L.P., Healdsburg ($12,000 for twelve scholarships); Carlisle Van Ornum Vocational, Cloverdale ($7,200 for nine scholarships); Kirsten Venge Memorial (one $1,600 scholarship); Andrea Vicini Memorial ($2,000 for four scholarships); Andy Wallstrum Memorial ($500 for one scholarship); Gertrude Young Memorial (one for $1,100); L.E. and Eileen Castner Scholarship Fund ($150,000 for five four-year scholarships); Michael F. O’Donnell Memorial Scholarship Fund (one $1,000 scholarship); and the Sonoma County Medical Association and Alliance Scholarship Fund ($5,200 for 13 awards).

Grants from the Wilson Winery Children of Vineyard Workers scholarship, a new fund established at the Community Foundation in 2002 awarded $9,200 to twelve students.

Scholarship recipients are selected on a competitive basis, considering academic and non-academic factors as well as demonstrated financial need. Some of the funds target students from specific areas of interest to the donor, including high school attended, cultural background and academic/career focus. Awards ranging from $500 to $50,000 over four years are available to qualified students through the Community Foundation. More information can be found at www.sonomacf.org.

Community Foundation Sonoma County was established in 1983 to create on ongoing source of funds for local charitable organizations. Since that time, it has distributed more than $36 million in grants and scholarships, including more than $16.6 million in 2001. It is a vehicle for community philanthropy that enables organizations and individuals of modest means and significant wealth to contribute to a permanent endowment for the people of Sonoma County.

Individuals or organizations interested in starting a scholarship fund or transferring an existing fund to the Community Foundation should call 707/579-4073.

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