June 2014

The academic year is complete, and we have much to celebrate!

Hearty congratulations go to the 50 Scholars completing their college degrees! Their focus is the foundation for future opportunities and adventures. Happily, they also graduate to become Meritus alumni - many of whom continue to work with new Scholars or pay it forward in other meaningful ways. As a sidebar, 88% of Meritus Scholars are graduating from college - far exceeding the 23% average for first generation students nationally. Hats off to everyone who helped along the way!

And please welcome our newest cohort - 52 San Francisco public high schools grads! 83% will attend public and 11% private universities in California; 6% will be going out of state. Nine out of ten are the first in their families to go to college. To our donors: thank you for the lives and communities that you are changing! Read on for a recap of our 18th Annual Awards Reception.

Lastly, we are excited to place Scholars in paid summer internships in fields including healthcare, business, tech, and public service. By connecting academic interests with career pursuits, our Scholars are building resumes and networks to serve them in college and after graduation. Help support Scholars interested in community service by clicking here to join our mirco-giving campaign.

Happy summer! Thank you for making Meritus the special community that it is!

Best regards,

Diana

Diana M. Wolf

Executive Director

Meritus welcomes 52 new Scholars to the Class of 2014 at the 18th Annual Meritus Awards Reception!

In an intimate gathering with donors and Scholars, 52 new students were welcomed in to the Meritus community at the 18th Annual Meritus Awards Reception on June 2, 2014.

Donor Bill Drypolcher of Zephyr Real Estate and 2014 Scholar Allen Huang

The evening, generously sponsored by Zephyr Real Estate and held at KQED Studios, was an opportunity for Scholars and donors to meet for the very first time. Our recent high school grads, who just finalized their college decisions, celebrated their achievements and are now looking forward to continued success in college.

Raquel Gonzalez, 2003 Meritus Scholar

Welcoming guests was KQED President John Boland who noted the synergies we share in our commitment of public education.

2003 Meritus alumna and graduate of Ripon College, Raquel Gonzalez addressed the group, giving her advice to the new Scholars. She shared her story of overcoming adversity, assuming leadership, learning to find her voice and advocate for herself. Ultimately, these lessons lead to her success in college and now later in her professional career.

San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim then spoke about her path to local office. While not seeing herself a a leader early on, Kim found her passion in helping others. "Quiet leadership" and the ability to build coalitions are the skills she uses in doing what she loves. As Supervisor for District 6 which includes the Tenderloin from which a number of Meritus Scholars stem, her words inspired guests to make a difference in the communities in which they live.

Supervisor Jane Kim, District 6

Find out more about our 52 Scholars and read Meritus alumna Raquel Gonzalez's full speech.

As some Scholars are just beginning, others graduate!

When Maritess Pajares graduated from high school, she knew her dreams wouldn't end there. As with many students who are the first in their families to attend college, her decision to continue her education would not be without its challenges. Not only was Maritess from a low-income background, she was a new mother to a baby boy named Jaeden. She understood that to embark on this journey would be hard work but she was up for the challenge and had the drive to seek out the support she needed to ease in this transition.

Maritess applied to Meritus

Maritess and her son Jaeden at her college graduation

and was granted a four-year scholarship as well as access to the emotional and academic supports that the Meritus program provides. Attending San Francisco State University, she studied hard in her classes while working to support herself and her son. With limited family support, Maritess often faced circumstances that could have easily derailed her from school. Duirng college she continued to have monthly 1:1 check-ins with student coach and Meritus Student Relations Manager, Kate Bueler. In these sessions they talked about Martiess's academics and ways to work through the challenges that Maritess faced on a day-to-day basis.

In May of 2014, Maritess graduated with a degree in Asian American Studies and Pre-Nursing with her son Jaeden cheering her on. When Kate asked her about how she felt about graduating she said "I still cannot believe it myself. But it is all thanks to you and the Meritus Program for giving me such an amazing opportunity and pushing me not to give up." And once again, Maritess knew her journey to bettering her future and the future of her son wouldn't stop at college graduation. Through the Meritus Career Development Program, she is starting an internship at UCSF to gain experience in the field she wishes to pursue post-graduation. Maritess explains that her ultimate goal is to not only become a Pediatric Nurse but also to show young mothers that being a mom and completing a college degree can be a reality.

We know Maritess will continue to thrive and we can't wait to see where life takes her!

Continue reading to see all the Meritus Scholars who have graduated or are graduating in 2013-14.

Scholars on the move!

Through partnerships with organizations like the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and companies around the Bay Area, Meritus Scholars are gaining invaluable experience through paid internship placements. A recent study showed that students who complete a paid internship are more likely to receive at least one postgraduate job offer (63%) compared to those students with no internship (35%). Our Scholars are not only being exposed to what it's like to work in a real world working environment, they are gaining hard skill sets that put them at a competitive advantage with their peers. We can't thank our internship host companies and partners enough for allowing these students the opportunity to excel.

Education Superhighway: Eric Chu

Hall Capital: Dillon Pan

IntersectENT: Leslie Hernandez-Sanchez

Kababayan: Wendy Wen

Krux: Sydney Sweeney

Mellon Capital: Logan Cai, Michelle Linh

NuGEN: Christina Liem

Office of Supervisor Jane Kim: Simone Evans, Courtney Lam, Mubeenah Shaikh

Open Table: Amy Kwong

Premier Nutrition: Anna Mai

Stanford Hospitals and Clinics: Vanessa Garcia

University of California San Francisco: Hiu Min "Anna" Dai, Xi Wen "Lucy" Deng, Onjira Dharmasukrit, Maritess Pajares, Chelsea Stewart

To learn more about our Career Development Program and how you and/or the company you work for can get involved, contact Denise Miller at denise@meritusfund.org || 415-400-8642.

Microgiving supports summer interns

Simone, Mubeenah, and Courtney are Meritus Scholars and have each been offered prestigious summer internships in the public service sector. For these young women, learning how to make a meaningful difference in their communities is a number one priority.

Like many public service positions, these internships are currently unpaid. To help balance their financial needs with their desire to gain experience in the public sector, Meritus invites you to participate in a microgiving campaign to fund interns in community-focused positions.

Join us as we raise $6,500 to provide internship stipends for Simone, Mubeenah, and Courtney.

2010 Meritus Scholar Simone

Simone, 2010 Meritus Scholar studying at Manhattanville College, shares the importance of this work:

"My personal background of growing up in the most disadvantaged parts of San Francisco plays a big part in my drive to create better communities as well as help to uplift individuals within those communities. Experiencing issues of drugs, domestic violence, living in poverty and being able to overcome these obstacles while growing up has further persuaded me to get involved with creative solutions. This position is of particular interest to me because I want to learn more about policy and the works of local government."

Click here

to read more about the girls or to give a gift towards their internship stipends.

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In This Issue

Meritus Welcomes its New Class of 2014

A Meritus Scholar Graduates

Scholars' Summer Internships

Microgiving Supports Summer Interns!

New Members Joins Meritus Board

Volunteers Needed!

Thank you to all of the 2013-14 Career Mentors! Your support of our young Scholar professionals has been transformative. We're now looking for Career Mentors and Informational Interviewers for the 2014-15 academic year. To learn more about how you can get involved, click here.

Thank you to all of this year's 2014 scholarship donors!

Anonymous || Eva Auchincloss || Johanna & Thomas Baruch || Kay Black || Gee Gee Bland Platt || Jane Borg || Brenda Bottum || Beate Boultinghouse & Michael Fury || Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco || Ardis & Alfred Breslauer || Barbera Brooks || Leslie & Buzz Burlock || Elizabeth Burnham

Maria & Andy Burtis || Susan Byrd & Mark Lampert || Tom Chavez || Pam & Jamie Diwik || Dodge & Cox || Lisa Erdberg & Dennis Gibbons || Anna & Robert Fairbank || Diane Foug & Tony Schneider || Chris Gough || Julie Harkins || Elizabeth & Geoffrey Hazard || William Hobi || Mimi Jensen & Jerry Elbaum || Kaiser Permanente Health Education Fund for Northern California || Tonia & Adam Karr || Katherine & Duncan Kennedy || Miki & Martin Kobinger || Ann & Karl Ludwig || Mary Ann Mason || Robert Meister || Minds Matter of San Francisco || Patty & Paul Murphy || Orbis Investment Management || Kay & Abhay Parekh || Mauree Jane & Mark Perry || Dr. Richmond Prescott || Tim Ranzetta || Venetta & John Rohal || Molly & John Scully || Tracy Sedlock & Barnaby Walsh || Camilla & George Smith || Jane & Richard Springwater || St. Francis Hospital Foundation || Tania Stepanian || Lucille Sutton || Susan & Jim Swartz || Jen & Ryan Sweeney || Victoria Thorp & Jim Migdal || The David and Maria Waitrovich Charitable Fund || WCC Scholarship Foundation || Associates of Wells Fargo Bank in memory of Troy Holtzinger || Kurt Wessels || Lynn White || Annie Williams & Harry Schulman || Charles & Helene Wright || Cora Yang || Jacqueline Young || Sara Zeff Geber || Agents of Zephyr Real Estate

Two new members join the Meritus Board and others join the Advisory Council!

Abhay Parekh

After six years of service on the Meritus Board of Directors, we are pleased that Tonia Karr and Chris Boyd are remaining involved with Meritus and have joined the Advisory Council. As these two members leave the Board, Meritus welcomes two new members - Abhay Parekh and Janie Richardson! Each board and advisory council member shares our vision and commitment to our mission. They generously share their expertise and rich experience to help us to continue our growth and deepen our focus in serving our community's college-bound youth. We welcome Abhay and Janie, and we are grateful for their partnership!

Read more about Abhay, Janie, and all of the Meritus Leadership.

Congratulations to all the Graduates of 2013-14!

Martin Arellano, CSU San Francisco

Franklin Arriola-Guandique, CSU San Jose

Barry Au, CSU Long Beach

Leona Cheng, Manhattanville College

Terry Chow, UC Davis

Alexandria Linda Cordova, CSU San Francisco

Tina Cun, UC Berkeley

Diamond Davis, UC Berkeley

Onjira Dharmasukrit, CSU San Francisco

Simone Evans, Manhattanville College

Patricia Fuentes, UC Santa Cruz

Marcel Glover, CSU San Jose

Ilisha Rachell Graham, University of San Francisco

Wayland He, UC Santa Cruz

Gier Hernandez, CSU Humboldt

Valentine Hidayat, UCLA

Gina Ho, UCLA

Michelle Hoang, University of San Francisco

Xiu Yi Irene Huang, CSU San Francisco

Armando Ibarra, Manhattanville College

Geanna Isis Mohamed, University of Rochester

Isayah Johnson, CSU San Francisco

Emily Law, UC Santa Cruz

Jimin Lee, UC San Diego

Mark Siu Lee, UC Berkeley

Maria Alicia Lemus, CSU San Francisco

Tiffany Leung, UC San Diego

Sharon Li, UC Santa Cruz

Amanda Liu, UC Berkeley

Jia Wei Rose Liu, CSU San Francisco

Linda Liu, UC San Diego

Yesenia N. Lopez, CSU San Francisco

Vicki Luo, UC San Diego

Cindy Luu, CSU San Francisco

Shirley Ma, UC San Diego

Chantelle Shadrina Mabrey, Langston University

Maggie Mai, Manhattanville College

Osvaldo Marquez Gomez, Pitzer College

Anh Tuan "Justin" Nguyen, University of Hawaii, Manoa

Alessandra E. Ortiz, CSU Los Angeles

Cintia Pacho, CSU San Francisco

Maritess Pajares, CSU San Francisco

Dillon Pan, UC Santa Cruz

Nancy Perez-Real, CSU San Francisco

Jerome Pusung, CSU San Diego

Jasenia Quintana-Lopez, UC Riverside

Jesus Rojas-Cazarez, UC Santa Cruz

Kiani Shaw, CSU Fresno

Wai Yan Connie So, CSU San Jose

Michelle Ka Yan Tam, UC Davis

Danny Tao, UC Davis

Jameelah Krystina Taylor, New School

Donald Tchopya, Knox College

Willy Ten, CSU San Jose

Ivan Tham, UC San Diego

Phet Tran, UC Davis

Olushade Anesa Unger, UC San Diego

Chun Wang, UC San Diego

Michael Wang, University of Southern California

Elaine Carrie Wong, UC Santa Cruz

Emily Marie Wong, CSU Sonoma

Tiffany Wong, CSU San Francisco

Yammi Wong, UC San Diego

Philip Wu, UC Santa Cruz

Dennis Xie, Manhattanville College

William Yee, CSU San Jose

Anna Yu, UC Santa Cruz

Julia Yu, UC San Diego

Donors: Expect to hear from your Scholar(s) soon!

You should expect to receive an update letter from your Scholar(s) via email in July! Be sure not to miss it by double checking your spam folder of your inbox. If it's not there or if you have any questions, contact us.

Donor FAQs

Q: How do I become a donor?

To become a Meritus donor you must make a four-year commitment to contribute between $500-$4,000 annually. Please email us your pledge form, and let us know how you would like to participate.

Q: I understand that I will receive an update from my Scholar twice a year. When can I expect to receive them?

Scholars update their donors twice annually with a letter - sent via email - to share highlights of their most recent semester. Correspondence can be expected by June 15 and January 15 each year for a total of eight semesters.

Q: Should I respond to my Scholar's updates?

Yes, please do! Scholars love to hear from their donors. Your response helps your student feel confident and opens the door to relationship building.

Q: Is it appropriate to connect with my Scholar beyond email communications?

Yes! Many of our Scholars are very interested in getting to know more about their donors. Some donors invite students to coffee, to lunch or dinner, take walks, go to museums, and so forth.

Q: When are my pledge payments due?

Pledge payments are due annually by July 1. Meritus will send a pledge reminder in late May of each year. Payments can be made via check or online via credit card. Please note, however, that an online payment is subject to a 3% processing charge.

Q: Is it possible to make one payment for the total amount of my pledge?

Yes. Some donors prefer to make a full pledge payment upfront, so as not to have to write a check annually.

Q: If I have another question...?

Please feel free to contact us!

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