Recipients from eight California cities use funds to pursue career goals San Francisco, CA, September 20, 2007--BRIDGE Housing, the state’s leading nonprofit developer of affordable homes, today announced the winners of 13 scholarships under the Alan L. and Ruth Stein Educational Assistance Program. The recipients, all residents of BRIDGE properties, received awards of $1,000 to $5,000 to help pay for tuition and other critical expenses not covered by traditional scholarships, such as child care, transportation, books, and supplies. An awards luncheon was held in San Francisco today to honor the 2007 recipients: • Robert Triplett, Strobridge Court Apartments, Castro Valley
• Fatima Fuentes, Peninsula Park Apartments, East Palo Alto
• Xiomara Hartzler, Windrow Apartments, Irvine (Los Padrinos Award winner)
• Vanessa Tamayo, Laguna Canyon, Irvine
• Ezihe Ekpemiro, Chestnut Linden Court, Oakland
• Yonis Mudey, Town Center and Courtyards at Acorn, Oakland
• Fredonia Thompson, Mandela Gateway, Oakland (African American Alliance Award winner)
• Assadollah Assadyari, Dove Canyon Apartments, San Diego
• Delonzo Pope, One Church Street Apartments, San Francisco
• Daniel Situ, Fell Street Apartments, San Francisco
• Shannon Lee, Cinnabar Commons, San Jose
• Melodee Celise, Terra Cotta Apartments, San Marcos
• Kimberly McArthur, Terra Cotta Apartments, San Marcos Scholarship recipient Yonis Mudey, who is the first of his siblings to attend college, said, “After receiving my degree in nursing, I plan to work with critical cancer and trauma patients in hospitals as well as practicing in low-income clinics. Nursing is a career choice I can be proud of because it involves helping people in the worst times.” 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. “We have found that our residents, far from feeling trapped in their circumstances, are tremendously motivated and see education as a key to a better quality of life,” said BRIDGE President and CEO Carol Galante. “We are also seeing a ripple effect. Last year’s 13 scholarship recipients have already inspired nine of their family members--children, siblings, spouses, and parents--to pursue new educational goals and enroll in school.”
The scholarship program was founded in 2001 by Alan L. and Ruth Stein of San Francisco. Mr. Stein is Managing Director of JMP Securities and founding Chairman of BRIDGE Housing’s Board of Directors. Applicants, all residents of BRIDGE Housing properties across the state, provided letters of recommendation, financial plans, and essays describing their career goals and personal life stories. “I’ve been involved in the development of affordable housing in the Bay Area for more than 25 years,” Stein said, “and it is clear that many more resources are needed to give our residents a real chance to succeed.” Since the Steins’ initial contribution of $100,000, the scholarship endowment has mushroomed to over $1 million through the support of individual donors and foundations from across California. # # # NOTE TO EDITORS: Photographs of many of the scholarship recipients at the awards luncheon will be available. To request, please contact Lyn Hikida, Director of Communications and Media, at 415.989.1111 ext. 7804 or lhikida@bridgehousing.com. |
