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Empowered Minds

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A mind is truly a terrible thing to waste–and an incredibly powerful tool to unlock.

We’re working to ensure every child, teen and adult in San Joaquin County has access to a quality education that propels them into trajectory-changing opportunities and community-changing careers.

Vision

Together, we can build a community where…

Every child feels safe, welcome, and supported at their school

Every child can read at grade level

Every student graduates high school with a clear path forward

Colleges and Universities partner with the community to ensure all students graduate with a degree or credential of value

Every adult is able to attain the education they need to change and advance in their careers

Need

Too Many Missed Opportunities

2.9 grade levels behind
As of 2016, Black students in Stockton were on average 2.9 grade levels behind and Latino students were on average 2.4 grade levels behind. This represents gaps of 1.4 and 0.9 grade levels to their white peers. Source.

14% of students reading on grade level
Coming out of the pandemic, just 14% of students in Stockton were reading at grade level. Source.

46th out of 58 counties for high school graduation rate
San Joaquin County sits in the bottom 12 California counties with a high school graduation rate of 78%. Source.

19.2% of residents with a Bachelor’s degree
Less than 20% of San Joaquin County residents over the age of 25 have a Bachelor’s degree compared with the state average of 33%. Source.

Our Work

Scholarships

Arturo Vera Art Scholarship

The Arturo Vera Art Scholarship was established by Arturo and Ana Vera to support young people who are pursuing their passions in the Art field.

Avi Raina Scholarship

To continue his legacy and passion, the “Avi Raina Scholarship” was established at the Community Foundation of San Joaquin to benefit local High School Seniors.

Bill Pollard Jr. Scholarship

The Bill Pollard Jr. Scholarship was established by Bill and Kimberley Pollard to support young people who are pursuing their passions in the Business field.

John & Francesca Vera Community Leadership Scholarship

The John & Francesca Vera Community Leadership Scholarship was established by John and Francesca Vera to support students of Hispanic/Latino descent who have an interest in community leadership.

Robert & Catherine Lagorio Scholarship

The Robert & Catherine Lagorio Scholarship was established to support students from San Joaquin County pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.

San Joaquin Society for Human Resource Management Scholarship

The San Joaquin Society for Human Resource Management Scholarship was established to support students who have an interest in becoming Human Resource professionals.

Stockton Student Athletes Scholarship Fund

The Stockton Student Athletes Scholarship Fund was established to support students who will be playing on college sports teams.

Taylor Farms Pacific Educational Scholarship

Taylor Farms Company takes pride in its employees and is excited to be able to provide these scholarships. The Taylor Farms Company scholarships are open to children and grandchildren of Taylor Farms Pacific or On-Time Staffing employees.

Women Athletes Scholarship Fund

This Fund was originally established in 2018 at the Community Foundation of San Joaquin to support a program that is no longer in existence. The fund was renamed the Women Athletes Scholarship Fund in 2020 with the goal of expending the entirety of the fund as scholarships.
“
There are far too many students in our county whose incredible potential is limited by the financial resources available to them. The work of the Community Foundation and the scholarship programs it supports are essential to helping our youth forge brighter futures for themselves and their families.
Patricia Smith , San Joaquin Society for Human Resource Management
“
Because of your donation, college is now a possibility. I will go into college more confident about my financial situation and I promise to make the most of my college years and do everything it takes to be successful and not let my scholarship money be used in vain. I can't express my gratitude enough.
Alexis Manabat , John and Francesca Vera Community Leadership Scholarship Recipient

Help us change the trajectory of students’ lives through the power of education.

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