by Arthur Ledesma - Alumnus and President of the SHS Alumni Fund
The Sunnyside HS Alumni Scholarship Fund started almost fifty years ago as a class project for the SHS Class of 1972. It has now grown into a full-fledged Sunnyside High School Alumni undertaking.
The Alumni Scholarship Fund is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) 3 Education Organization. All donations are tax deductible. The Foundation is managed by a caring group of Sunnyside High School Alumni that provide oversight.
"The organization’s fund balance has grown, and the Foundation has established an “Endowment Fund” to ensure the SHS Alumni Fund will exist into perpetuity for future SHS Grizzly graduates. The Endowment Fund has close to $15,000 dollars and the Board will be setting future financial goals to ensure sustainability for the future."
The Board meets 2 to 4 times each year. Agendas are established and minutes kept. The Board of Directors have made the commitment to honor donor’s requests and to ensure that 100% of all collected funds will be deposited intact. Expenses are held to the very minimum and to this date operating expenses have been absorbed personally by the Board of Directors.
The organization’s fund balance has grown, and the Foundation has established an “Endowment Fund” to ensure the SHS Alumni Fund will exist into perpetuity for future SHS Grizzly graduates. The Endowment Fund has close to $15,000 dollars and the Board will be setting future financial goals to ensure sustainability for the future.
The Alumni Fund was started by SHS Class President of 1972, Pedro Marquez. Mr. Marquez is retiring as a teacher and coach at Sunnyside High School after almost 40 years at the school. In the early years Mr. Marquez often donated the annual awards from his own pocket. The Scholarship Fund has grown substantially over the last five years. Each year we award 2 scholarships to deserving graduating seniors based on their academic achievement, educational goals, community service and school involvement.
Applicants fill out a Scholarship Packet and a Committee reviews them and makes a recommendation to the Board. The financial award is designed to assist awardees in meeting their post-secondary educational goals. The Board also follows up with scholarship recipients each winter in December to check in and see how their educational plans are progressing.
To all the Alumni of Sunnyside High School, we need your continued help and support to keep this project moving forward.
Please consider donating to the Sunnyside High School Alumni Fund. Contribute by Credit Card HERE or mail in your donation to SHS Alumni Fund, PO Box 1149, Sunnyside, WA 98944
Thank you for your consideration and GO GRIZZLIES!
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