BAGSF 2017 Scholarship Fundraiser

JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE BENEFITTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES


www.bagsf.org

Dear all,

In 1964 at age 20 I arrived to Redwood City with the clothes I was wearing and $6.00 in my pocket. A year after got married to Margarita Coria and had two kids. In 1999 I lived the happiest moment of my life, when my son Noel Tapia graduated from law school from UC Berkley. With all my joy and satisfaction on that memorable night I noticed something that made me sad. Only a hand full of Latinos graduated along Noel. That night I promised to do something to help low income students graduate from a university. Along with Maribel Medina, Miguel Marquez and Noel Tapia (lawyers) I received the legal 501 (c3) documents and Bay Area Gardeners Scholarship Foundation was born.  As a gardener I decided to ask clients to help in order to be able to award scholarships to low income students.

Since 2006 until today we have awarded 202 students from which many are professional. BAGSF strives to promote educational attainment for all diverse students in the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara. In addition to supporting students pursuing a post-secondary education, the Foundation’s goal is to instill in our recipients a sense of pride and spirit to also give back to their community. During our 11 year existence these students have been our great success.

In 2017, BAGSF will award scholarships of $2,000 to thirty recipients. Two of the thirty recipients who display exceptional community involvement will recieve the Tapia Family Award of Exellence for an additional $1,000. These scholarships are open to high school seniors expected to graduate in the spring of 2017, high school graduates, GED recipients, and students already enrolled in a college or university. 

But every day it’s become more difficult to gather donations in order to continue with BAGSF mission. I, Catalino Tapia reach out to you heart in hands for your help to continue awarding scholarships to low-income students in our community to pursue a post-secondary education. Together we can make a difference for the future of these students and their families, making them productive individuals for our communities and professionals.

 For your help much and much thank you!

-Note all donations are tax-deductable