Rotary Santa Monica Raises Over $21,000 for SMC Guardian Scholars

Rotary Club of Santa Monica Raises Over $21,000 for Santa Monica College Guardian Scholars

Grant to Assist Program which Provides Comprehensive Support to Current/Former Foster Youth Enrolled at the College

SANTA MONICA, CA—The Rotary Club of Santa Monica has awarded the Santa Monica College (SMC) Guardian Scholars Program a grant of $21,750 to help current/former foster youth enrolled at the college with the cost of textbooks, food, transportation, and to ease the burden of certain fees. The funds were raised by Rotary Club at the 16th Annual Santa Monica Rotary Wine Festival held Saturday, March 9 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles—the highest amount the club has raised for a featured charity. Last year, Rotary awarded a $10,000 grant to support SMC’s basic needs programs.

Established in Fall 2013, SMC’s Guardian Scholars program came into being thanks to a three-year grant from the Angell Foundation, and additional support came through grants from the S. Mark Taper Foundation, The Whittier Trust, Stuart Foundation, Attias Family Foundation, Sidney Stern Memorial Trust, California Community Foundation, The Mark Hughes Foundation, and Providence/St. John’s Health Center as well as through state funding for equity-focused programs. Guardian Scholars Program supports the academic and personal goals of current and former foster youth attending the college—through intensive academic and career counseling, priority enrollment, tutoring, meal assistance, student success workshops, mental health therapy and much more. (SMC also has a state-funded NextUp program for foster youth, alongside Guardian Scholars—not all foster youth are eligible for NextUp—the two programs comprise a support system for foster youth).

Andrea Gressinger, chairperson for the Rotary of Santa Monica Wine Festival event, said, “The Rotary Club of Santa Monica is proud to support the Guardian Scholars program at SMC and the amazing students they support. Their dedication to giving former and current foster students the help they need to succeed is gift to all of us as it makes the world a better place.”

“Many Guardian Scholars have graduated and transferred to four-year schools including UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, and Cal State Northridge,” said Debra Locke, SMC’s Interim Dean of Special Programs. “Close to 1,000 former or current foster youth have received targeted counseling, meal and transportation services, as well as resources for housing and medical services. I cannot overstate the impact of this generous assistance provided by Rotary Club Santa Monica—thanks to them, more Guardian Scholars will receive much-needed help as they navigate college and follow in the footsteps of those who have transferred or started a career of their choice.”

Janee Keaton, a Guardian Scholar and Liberal Arts major stated that the program’s support “meant the world and allowed me to feel a stronger sense of self-worth while helping me advocate for myself.”

Biological anthropology major Zain Zain echoed her words. “As someone who’s been in foster care . . . the counselors and people in [Guardian Scholars] are always there to help, if you need help with anything.”

“The support Guardian Scholars provided meant a lot through good times and hard times,” added another student Zion Cail. “As long as I have been in the program I [have gotten] the same love, appreciation, respect and support.”

Cail further stated that “no matter what I’m going through” he has the assurance that Guardian Scholars will always be there, right behind, helping him to “be on the right track.”

To learn more about Guardian Scholars (and NextUp) visit smc.edu/fosterservices.  More information about Rotary Club of Santa Monica is available on the club’s webpage at rotary5280.org.

Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). 

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