Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2017-2018 | Page 86

Future
“T
Sacramento
he Future Foundation of
Sacramento paves the way
to college for local students
who otherwise might never attend –
those who excel academically, but lack
funding, college-graduate role models,
and family resources,” says Elizabeth
Marlow, Executive Director. Launched
in 2007, this scholarship and mentoring
program takes on four new 11th graders
per school year, and supports them
through two years in high school and
five years of college, for a total of 28
participating students each year.
“We conduct a rigorous selection
process throughout Sacramento-area
high schools for students who meet
the program’s high standards,” says
attorney Michael J. Anderson, Future
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PAVING THE PATH TO
COLLEGE SUCCESS
CAPITAL REGION CARES 2017 | comstocksmag.com
Sacramento Board President. “The
strongest candidates are chosen from
about 400 applications each year
and receive financial-need-based
scholarships and mentoring through
high school and college. Along with the
critical ongoing scholarship funding,
one-on-one mentoring makes the
program unique.”
With Future Sacramento’s funding
and guidance, first-generation
Vietnamese-American Diem Le realized
her dream of graduating from UC Davis
in 2016. Her parents came to America
for a better life, but finances, language
and cultural barriers made the family’s
transition difficult. However, even by
age 10, Diem was dreaming of UC Davis
followed by pharmacy school.
“I lost all hope of achieving my
dream in high school when my dad was
diagnosed with Hepatitis C,” Diem says.
“Just as I was giving up, I was awarded
the Future Sacramento scholarship,
which made college possible by
relieving financial burdens. Future
Sacramento made the dream become
reality when I was admitted to UC Davis
to major in Environmental Toxicology
with an emphasis on Pharmacology and
minor in Psychology.”
Diem’s college journey has been
challenging, but Future Sacramento
provided critical support. “I struggled
to maintain my grades, social
interactions, and sense of self. The
Future Sacramento scholarship and
peer students helped me to persevere.