Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara P.O. Box 3620, Santa Barbara, CA 93130-3620

(805) 687-6065 • www.sbscholarship.org

Many students in Santa Barbara County cannot afford to go to college.

Despite the fact that Santa Barbara County is perceived to be an

affluent area, many local families are struggling. Thousands of low

and middle income students have demonstrated the commitment and

perseverance needed to succeed in college but lack the financial

resources to get there.

To help close the higher education gap for students with financial

need, the Scholarship Foundation has worked diligently for 47 years to distribute funds to

qualified and motivated students. Scholarship support provides a

solid, tangible service that makes an immediate impact. Together we are providing opportunities

to the next generation of leaders. Thank you for your support.

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara gratefully acknowledges the Charles and Margaret Morrice Educational Fund

for generously underwriting the expenses related to this brochure.

Every Student should have

access to Higher Education

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara The Case for Support

Santa Barbara County students in their pursuit of undergraduate, graduate, and vocational education through financial aid advising and the granting of scholarships.

Our mission is to inspire, encourage, and support

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara provides

students with a strong start to a successful future.

Since 1962, we have helped more than 22,000

Santa Barbara County students with awards totaling

more than $50 million –making the Scholarship

Foundation of SantaBarbara the nation’s leaderin providing community-

based scholarships for higher education.

Our Commitment

Student photos by Brad Elliott

With tuition costs increasing at alarming rates, financing college has become out of reach for many Santa Barbara County families. Research shows that through higher education, young people are better prepared to contribute positively to their communities and to their professions.

A college education is an appreciating asset, resulting in a better educated workforce. Graduates give back to the community through their career choices, donations, and volunteer efforts. We all benefit when young people are given the opportunity to succeed.

College graduates earn $1.2 million more over their lifetimes compared to high school graduates, and higher levels of education correspond to lower levels of unemployment and poverty. In addition to contributing more to tax revenues, adults with higher levels of education are less likely to depend on social safety-net programs, decreasing demand on public budgets.

ScholarShipS are a coSt-effective way to change Society

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara believes every student should have a chance at college.

With your help, our goal to provide college access for all motivated local students is within reach. Demand for scholarships is up, yet we are turning away increasing numbers of qualified students. In 2009 the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara was forced to deny support to 900 students due to a lack of funds. You can help us reduce this number.

tranSforming liveS through college acceSS

$1,000in additional scholarship support

reduces the probability of a first-year, low-income student dropping out by 23 percent.

Young people with talent, drive and desire should have access to a college or vocational school education. Many students in Santa Barbara County cannot afford to go to college or have limited awareness of how to pay for higher education.

Change Lives, Change Society

51%of applicants to the

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara are

the first in their family to go to college

“This scholarship has given me hope, motivation, and a burst of determination to finish college, knowing that there are people out there who believe in me and what I can accomplish. ”

- Melinda Lagan

DemanD for college graDuateS iS on the riSe

As businesses need more college-educated workers, growth in the availability of such workers has not kept pace. The biggest challenge facing American higher education is the need to increase the number of educated young people to replace the masses of baby boomers who will be retiring in the coming decade. According to a recent study by the Public Policy Institute of California, 41 percent of workers in the California economy in 2025 will need a bachelor’s degree. Today, only 34 percent of California adults hold a bachelor’s degree.

Californians are more likely than other Americans to say college is necessary for success, but they’re worried that it isn’t affordable, according to the latest poll from the Public Policy Institute of California. The State of California is spending less and less each year on supporting the basic costs of the University of California system, the California State University system, and the California Community College system. As the state cuts back, colleges are forced to find other ways to pay operational costs.

government iS Scaling back

SchoolS are cutting funDing

According to the National Education Association, public colleges and universities respond to decreasing state support by increasing tuition and decreasing grant aid. Colleges and universities must also respond by cutting academic programs, staff and faculty and delaying major purchases. Shrinking need-based student grant assistance casts a great shadow on access and affordability for students with the greatest need.

In response to shrinking state support and higher university costs, families have turned to student loans to make up the difference. In the past decade, there has been a 50% increase in the number of undergraduate borrowers, and a doubling in the inflation-adjusted total of students’ debts. This financial strain on students is influencing career choices and is shaping our future workforce.

StuDentS anD parentS are taking on more Debt

There is an Urgent Need for Educational Support

According to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007, while median family income rose only 147 percent.

83%of award recipients from

the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara go on to complete their intended degree, compared to the national average of 52%

This year we must deny scholarship

awards to the equivalent of two

entire classes of local graduating seniors.

The future of these students depends on

your generosity.

our viSion We strive to enable all qualified students to fulfill their educational potential through two critical elements of student support –

Scholarship Awards and Financial Aid Advising.

The Financial Aid Advising and Outreach Program aims to increase access for students most at-risk and in need of financial support for higher education. Many students and parents are overwhelmed by the process of applying for financial aid, and are unaware that there is additional support available to help cover the expenses of college and vocational school. This program helps students and parents apply for scholarships as well as complete the complex federal and state financial aid forms. Our aim is to expand our outreach activities to include more contact with younger students, in order to encourage their parents to start college financial planning at an early age.

Strategic anD impactful ScholarShipS

We take a personalized and thorough approach with every applicant. The Scholarship Program requires that applicants have attended high school in Santa Barbara County and plan to be full-time students at an approved vocational school, community college, four-year college, or graduate or medical school. Students complete an online student aid application that includes an essay, academic transcripts, extracurricular activities list, an academic recommendation letter, and an employer or other supervisor recommendation letter. Each qualified new applicant receives a personal interview with a board member or volunteer. We carefully evaluate each applicants’ individual financial situation, research the costs at their college, consider the other sources of aid available to them, and allocate scholarship funds in amounts to be as strategic and impactful as possible for each student.

financial aiD aDviSing anD outreach

Meeting the Challenge

unlike other charities, the Scholarship Foundation

of Santa Barbara does not charge an administrative fee to scholarship fund donors. 100% of your contribution

to support scholarships goes directly to deserving students.

of high school students in Santa Barbara County

have family incomes that are at or below the

federal poverty level.

27%

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara’s average annual scholarship award is $2,500. These scholarship awards, combined with federal and state government financial aid programs, college-provided student aid and family contributions, enable students to pursue their studies. Your generous support will make a tremendous difference in the life of a promising young person.

As a contributor, you will know the impact of your gift. Your participation provides meaningful support for students to accomplish their educational goals. As each student graduates from college you will be confident you have made a sound investment in the future.

Providing scholarships is a method of personal satisfaction for many community members. The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara manages scholarship funds for individuals, families, businesses, foundations and civic groups. Scholarships provide hope, encouragement and financial support for deserving students.

When you establish a scholarship fund, you have the opportunity to help determine criteria for your recipients. You may name your scholarship fund in your family or business name, or in honor or memory of a loved one. Creating a scholarship fund is a wonderful way to pay tribute to someone who has held a special place in your life.

DiScerning DonorS chooSe the ScholarShip founDation

0

500

1000

1500

2000

3000$ Amount Awarded Total Number of Awards

0

$1,000,000

$2,000,000

$3,000,000

$4,000,000

$5,000,000

$6,000,000

$7,000,000

25 Years of Awards: 1984 - 2009

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara has earned the Top 4 STar exceptional rating for fiscal responsibility for 7 consecutive years by Charity navigator, America’s premier independent evaluator of charities. only 1% of rated charities have received this distinction.

“As a wife and mother, Rose Hernandez was extraordinarily dedicated. Her commitment to the students of Santa Barbara High School was equally as special. During her 28 year

career there she helped hundreds of ESL students achieve their greatest potential. The first in her family to attend college, Rose was a trailblazer who was passionate about the transforming power of education. Upon her death we felt the most appropriate way to honor her and continue her legacy was to create the Rose Hernandez Endowed Scholarship Fund with the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.”- Lisa & Steve Hernandez (Rose’s daughter and husband)

“I sincerely appreciate the financial assistance that I have received from the Scholarship Foundation. I look forward to the day when I complete my education, pay off my debt and help students attain assistance to pursue higher education.” - An excerpt from a letter written by Daniel Brennan in July 1995. As a donor to the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, Dr. Daniel Brennan writes: “The support from the Scholarship Foundation allowed me to come back to my hometown as a pediatrician and care for the children of my former classmates. I feel so fortunate to be able practice medicine in the very community in which I was raised.” – Dr. Daniel Brennan

“For many years we searched for

a way to support the studies of

a deserving single parent.

Scholarship Foundation has made this task

easy, and the heartfelt thank-you letter from

the recipient was most special. These scholarships are now a regular

part of our annual giving program.” – Sherri & Ron Adler

“Our family has supported college scholarships for local students since our children were in preschool. My wife Jo and I feel great about

this use of our charitable dollars, with 100% of our donations going to support students. Also through our involvement, our children Hope

and Griffin have had the chance to learn about the hard work, the money and the sacrifices it takes for most students to get to college. As a result, we think they will be less likely to take

the opportunities they have for granted.” - Ken Saxon

What Donors are Saying

Rose Hernandez (Left) with her daughter Lisa

Left to Right - Jo, Griffin, Hope & Ken Saxon

High Impact Philanthropy: How to Make a Gift

Start an annual Scholarship FundMake a pledge to support deserving undergraduate or graduate students attending vocational schools, two-year colleges or four-year universities. Each May, you will receive a letter describing the student(s) we have selected for your scholarship award, keeping you closely tied to the impact of your gift.

Establish a permanent, Endowed Scholarship FundIn addition to the Annual Scholarship Fund donor benefits, we will invest your gift and use the earnings to provide scholarships for worthy undergraduate or graduate students in perpetuity.

Give Unrestricted ContributionsYour unrestricted gift will be used where it is most needed. The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara welcomes donations to support infrastructure and operational activities.

Support the outreach & Financial aid advising programYour donation will help provide workshops and counseling sessions for underserved students and families who may not know how to apply for all sources of financial aid.

Become a Member of the Scholars CircleName the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara as a beneficiary to provide a lasting legacy. Many planned gifts offer tax advantages to you and/or your heirs. We encourage you to work with your financial advisor to determine which assets to give, the best time to give them, and the type of gift arrangement that is most beneficial.

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is a public charity. While many gifts are cash donations, other forms of contributions are also greatly appreciated. All gifts are deductible for personal or corporate tax purposes to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please contact Colette Hadley, Executive Director for

guidance on what type of gift fits your interests. Call (805) 687-6065 or email chadley@sbscholarship.org. Thank you for your support.

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Charitable California Corporation. Tax identification number is 23-708-7774.