Annual employee fundraisers help 31 local students go to college in 2016
The Port of Oakland’s two employee scholarship organizations have reached a milestone this month by surpassing the $1 million mark in scholarships for students. Over the past 20 years, port employees have given 600 Oakland high school students $1.1 million in scholarship funds.
Since 1993 and 1994 respectively, the port’s Asian Employees Association Scholarship and Employees’ Scholarship Program were created to raise money for Oakland students. These organizations are all volunteer and employee run.
Each year, high school seniors apply for port employee scholarship awards that average $1,600 per student. The goal is to encourage students to pursue post-secondary education, vocational school, or apprenticeship trainings.
This month, the port’s employee scholarship associations together raised $76,500 for 31 high school students.
“For over 23 years, Port of Oakland employees have raised money so that Oakland high school students can achieve their college dreams,” said Port of Oakland Director of Social Responsibility Amy Tharpe. “Our greatest investment is in the future success of Oakland students."