23 Sep 35 Marin students to receive scholarships as part of a state grant awarded to Marin Education Fund.

35 Marin students to benefit from grant

by Jim Staats, Marin Independent Journal

Thirty-five high school seniors from Marin will receive college scholarships as part of a $554,000 state grant awarded to the Marin Education Fund.

Officials from the San Rafael nonprofit said the College Access Foundation of California is earmarked for low-income students who completed a Summer Institute program in partnership with Dominican University last month.

The grant is the second-largest received by the Marin Education Fund in its 27-year history.

"What is so thrilling about this is that they are award is making a four-year commitment to these students," said Kim Mazzuca, the fund's president. She said the money will help provide annual scholarships of about $3,500 to $3,600 per student.

"These are very low-income students and many the first in the family to go to college," she said.

Caroline Boitano, chief executive officer of the three-year-old foundation based in San Francisco, lauded the San Rafael agency's "outstanding track record helping students get to college."

"Its work has a multigenerational impact, making a real difference in the lives and futures of California's students and their families," she said.

Since its inception in 1981, the Marin Education Fund has spent more than $37 million on 27,000 scholarships as well as college access programs and support for low-income students and other students in need.

Contact Jim Staats via e-mail at jstaats@marinij.com