The Inland Empire Scholarship Fund was established as a 501c3 non-profit organization in 1998, by Dr. Manuela Sosa, currently a retired dentist, and her husband Espartago "Randy" Sosa, an engineer. Having lived all their lives in the Inland Empire, the Sosas know that assisting these low-income, high achieving Chicano/Latino students to fulfill their potential through a college education is the best investment in the future. The Sosas believe that these students are a tremendous asset to the Inland Empire when they return with their college education as professionals to communities in need. As César Chávez once said, "The end of all education should surely be service to others." This embodies the philosophy of the IESF.

By spring of 2008, the Inland Empire Scholarship Fund (IESF) had awarded over $471,850 among 424 low-income, high achieving Chicano/Latino students from San Bernardino and Riverside counties since 1998. 2008 was a very successful year as $100,000 was awarded among 98 students for the 2008-2009 academic year. This included 29 community college students, 24 California State University students, 24 University of California students, 8 private/independent university students, and 13 students who are in graduate school, teacher education programs, or medical school. Add another $150,000 for the scholarships awarded in April of 2009 to over 100 students, and the fund will now have awarded more than $600,000 in scholarhips to a total of 525 deserving students in 11 years.

The IESF success is attributed to the generosity of our corporate sponsors and individual donors, Board of Directors, and dozens of volunteers, including many current and former IESF scholarship recipients and their parents.

While we are proud of the accomplishments of the IESF in our first 10 years we know much more must be done. Chicano/Latino students in the Inland Empire face many challenges but they can succeed with our support.

The University of California research project ACCORD issued a report, entitled "Latino Educational Opportunity Report, (Oakes, 2007)", which found that in comparison to many White and Asian students, Latino students have "limited access to graduate from high school ready to succeed in higher education and careers". In 2003, 28.8% of all California high school graduates were eligible as freshmen to campuses of the California State University but only 16% of Latino high school graduates were eligible (CPEC, 2004). That same year, 14.4% of California high school graduates were eligible as freshmen for campuses of the University of California, yet only 6.5% of Latino high school graduates achieved UC eligiblity as freshmen (Ibid.).

Given these facts, the Sosas have reached out to community leaders, elected officials, leaders in business and industry, educators, and parents to develop the Inland Empire Scholarship Fund to identify Chicano/Latino students who are overcoming these challenges and pursuing a college education.

The Board of Directors of the Inland Empire Scholarship Fund invites you to join us in supporting these hard-working students as they earn undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Please continue to view the links on our website that will guide you in determining how you can help these students.

Together we will help these students create a better future for the Inland Empire.

Dr. Manuela G. Sosa, IESF President/CEO
Mr. Espartago "Randy" Sosa, IESF Treasurer
Ms. Dulce Pena, President of the IESF Board of Directors