Dollars For Scholars - Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars

2024 Scholarship Campaign: Please Donate

Background and Sponsors

Meet some of our past Scholarship Recipients

The Need for Support

The Inland Empire is significantly underfunded

Though attaining a higher education may seem unreachable for many students, the Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars is dedicated to providing financial aid to students facing economic burdens that also demonstrate academic and extracurricular excellence. Esperanza's purpose as an organization is to provide these students with scholarships to ease their financial burden, because Esperanza believes that all students should be given the opportunity to achieve their academic goals, regardless of personal or financial hardships.

In the past 20+ years Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars sponsors have helped bring many students one step closer to their dream of attending college. In addition to one time and/or renewable scholarship awards, students are also exposed to other opportunities including the Annual Mayor's Gala, Ontario's Independence Day Parade, our Annual Tardeada, and Toyota Leadership Dinner for scholars and alumni. During these events, Esperanza is able to build an environment for scholars and alumni to network and build leadership skills within the Inland Empire Community. These events are enhanced by local musicians and meals provided by our generous donors. Our scholars and alumni are given opportunities to share their own stories as college students through videos and public speaking. Many of Esperanza's scholars and alumni are able to receive additional scholarship, job, and internship opportunities through Esperanza's events.

Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars is also currently seeking to build a Scholarship Ambassador Program that will offer free leadership workshops to Esperanza scholars and alumni. Some of the workshops will provide Esperanza scholars and alumni assistance with writing scholarship essays, developing networking skills, and polishing job resumes.

The need is great, especially in the Inland Empire which is significantly under-served and there are only a few educational foundations providing scholastic support to the large community of deserving students from low income and underrepresented families. The Inland Empire Funders Alliance has reported some sobering realities:

>> Due to a lack of economic stability and insufficient incomes, many in the region continue to struggle to meet their basic needs, including housing, health care, food, clothing and utilities

>> According to the most recent American Community Survey, 20.4% of San Bernardino residents and 17.8% of Riverside County residents live below the federal poverty level

>> There are many strong and promising nonprofit programs and agencies within the region but they are grossly underfunded compared to organizations across the state - receiving just 26% of the statewide average revenue

Perhaps the most disturbing statistic is the comparison between per capita private foundation giving in Los Angeles County ($159.35), Riverside County ($12.09), and San Bernardino County ($5.52).

With such issues, it is no wonder that education has taken a back seat to such basic needs as described above in the Inland Empire. Yet, without help these students cannot achieve their dream of a college education and our Foundation is dedicated to making it happen for these deserving and talented students.

With your continued assistance as a donor/sponsor, Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars will continue to instill hope into students to see their dreams of obtaining a college education become a reality. Esperanza would like to give special thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors. Thank you for choosing to invest in the next generation of leaders in our community.

"Education is not a tool for development - individual, community and the nation. It is the foundation for our future. It is empowerment to make choices and emboldens the youth to chase their dreams"

― Nita Ambani

You can make a difference by donating today - check on the link below or at the bottom of this page.

Thank You Recent Sponsors

Meet Our Sponsors

Meet Our 2019 Sponsors

Meet Our College Partners

The following Universities and Colleges have partnered with the Foundation to provide Matching Grants for those Scholarship Recipients that attend one of these schools.

Scholarship America Partners

The following Universities and Colleges in California have partnered with Scholarship America to provide Matching Grants for those Scholarship Recipients that attend one of these schools.