BRIDGE awards funds to help individuals pursue career goals

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, September 30, 2009--BRIDGE Housing, the state’s leading nonprofit developer of affordable homes, has awarded 18 scholarships to residents of BRIDGE apartment communities from San Diego to Calistoga. The awardees received Alan and Ruth Stein Educational Assistance Program awards of up to $6,000 to help pay for tuition and expenses not covered by traditional scholarships, such as child care, transportation, books and supplies. The winners were honored in San Francisco today at an awards luncheon sponsored by Citi.

Scholarship recipient Veronica Medina, 36, of San Jose, is a single mother who works full time as an administrative assistant. She attends Mission College in the evenings, and is pursuing a BA in social work with a minor in early childhood education. “I would love to work with families with special needs,” she said, adding that it is important “to show my son that anything is possible as long as you work hard and receive a good education.”

“BRIDGE believes that an apartment with affordable rent should be a stepping stone for family advancement,” said BRIDGE Interim President and CEO Lydia Tan. “Particularly in today’s economy, it’s more important than ever to offer our residents this resource to help them pursue career goals and build greater financial security for their families.”

Over 90 percent of BRIDGE residents living in a family property work outside the home, many working more than one job to make ends meet. Residents cite the pursuit of education as one of the primary benefits of their affordable BRIDGE apartment, along with buying family necessities, paying off loans, and accruing savings.

The scholarship program was founded in 2001 by BRIDGE’s founding Chairman Alan Stein and his wife, Ruth. To date, the program has awarded 120 scholarships totaling more than $450,000. Applicants, all residents of BRIDGE properties across the state, provide letters of recommendation, financial plans and essays describing their career goals and personal life stories. 

For more information about BRIDGE Housing and the Alan and Ruth Stein Educational Assistance Program, visit www.bridgehousing.com.

Below is the complete list of educational assistance award recipients:

o Rose Baty, Oakland
o Kwabena Tumaini, Oakland (African American Alliance Award winner)
o Roxanne Suzuki, Walnut Creek
o Miguel Dimas, Richmond
o Hedali Robledo, St. Helena
o Jose Avila, Calistoga (Los Padrinos Award winner)
o Anahita Soroushi, Irvine
o Keyvan Farhad, Irvine
o Arezoo Sayflari, Irvine
o Bryan Harrison, San Marcos
o Michael Lam, San Diego
o Kien Ngo, San Francisco
o Veronica Medina, San Jose
o Zohal Nabiyar, San Jose
o Etta Lee, San Jose
o Christina Phan, Milpitas
o Miranda Cariaga, Suisun City
o German Arango, Santa Rosa

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Photographs of many of the scholarship recipients at the awards luncheon will be available, please contact Lyn Hikida at 415.321.3552 or lhikida@bridgehousing.com to request.