17th Annual Apple of Gold Education Awards Dinner this Friday, Oct. 22

Manuel N. Gomez, retired UCI vice chancellor for student affairs, pictured with Susan V. Bryant, retired UCI vice chancellor for research and professor of developmental & cell biology

PRESS RELEASE: October 12, 2010

Contacts: Dr. Juan Lara 626-390-0176
John Palacio 714-856-5214
Shelley Hoss 949-553-4202

For immediate release

“APPLE OF GOLD ” AWARDS RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

The Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) announces the recipients of the 17th Annual Apple of Gold Awards for excellence in teaching and educational leadership.

Educators who will be recognized at the October 22nd Apple of Gold Gala Awards Dinner at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel include: Lifetime Achievement Recognition, Manuel N. Gomez, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor Emeritus, University of California , Irvine ; Excellence in Teaching: Patricia Rendon-Cardenas, Teacher, Martin Luther King  Elementary School , Santa Ana Unified School District ; Excellence in Teaching: Vivian Bottino, Teacher, Marco Forster, Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District and Excellence in Teaching, Roselinn (Linn) Lee, Teacher, Valley High School, Santa Ana Unified School District. Recipients were nominated by their principal, superintendent or president, and supported by their peers, students, and parents.

In addition to recognizing local teachers and administrators who inspire and encourage students to strive for a university education, with the Apple of Gold Award, HEEF provides scholarships for college students and creates partnerships with the business sector to support higher education and nurture the next generation of community leaders.

Proceeds from the dinner go to the scholarship general fund and to its 30 sub funds targeting majors from the arts to business, engineering, law, medicine and technology. Today, the fruits of this investment are being made evident at graduation ceremonies across the county and the state. HEEF scholarship recipients are completing bachelor’s degrees as well as doctoral programs at prestigious institutions. Of note, one local student graduated from Boalt Law School . She had previously won HEEF scholarships as a graduating high school senior and a community college transfer student. She completed her MSW at Columbia University . This is but one example of students who have come through the K-14 pipeline and transferred to a four-year university and continued their education in graduate and professional schools. They make us proud and reflect Orange County ’s commitment to future generations.

Hispanic leaders and representatives of the greater Orange County community united to establish HEEF, formally launching the campaign in January 1994 with the goal of raising $1 million within five years. In 1998, HEEF celebrated the attainment of its $1 million goal. As of September 30, 2010, HEEF’s endowment stands at more than $2.6 million.

As a resource to academically talented Hispanic youth, HEEF’s goal is to enhance educational opportunities and resources at early ages to reduce school dropout rates and to improve students’ educational expectations and opportunities. Since 1996, HEEF has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships to over 1,250 deserving individuals.

HEEF is a component fund of the Orange County Community Foundation ( OCCF ), which was founded in 1989 to encourage, support and facilitate philanthropy in Orange County . OCCF ‘s investment guidelines ensure the best return possible while protecting the Fund’s principal.

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About the Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund

Meeting the Needs of Orange County’s Hispanic Youth

The Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) provides community and financial support for students at all levels along the education continuum. An unprecedented initiative for Orange County, HEEF has been established to support scholarships, programs and institutions that respond to the needs of Hispanic youth in order to inspire, enhance and improve educational opportunities.

HEEF’s goal is to enhance educational opportunities and resources at early ages to reduce school dropout rates and to improve students’ educational expectations and opportunities. The Fund is a resource to academically talented Hispanic youth that need to overcome barriers to a college degree.

Since 1996, HEEF has awarded over $1.4 million in scholarships to over 1,150 deserving individuals.

Why HEEF?

HEEF is a sound investment for the future of Orange County. Statistics for educational attainment among ethnic populations in the county illustrate the dramatic need to enhance opportunities within the Hispanic community:

• Hispanics represent 58 percent of the Orange County population under 18 years of age. By the year 2020, the Hispanic community is projected to grow to 50 percent of the total population.

• The percentage of Hispanic adults that obtained four or more years of college in 1990 was 9 percent, compared to 29 percent among adult white non-Hispanics, 22 percent among adult African-American/Blacks, and 38 percent among adult Asian/Pacific Islanders.

Ensuring Stability for the Future

Because the fund has been established as an endowment, only earned income is available for distribution. The principal remains intact as a core investment that will support the Hispanic community forever.

Accountability

HEEF is a component fund of the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), which was founded in 1989 to serve as a charitable organization for local needs. OCCF’s investment guidelines ensure the best return possible while protecting the Fund’s principal. Each year, Moss Adams LLP independently audits the Orange County Community Foundation.

History

Hispanic leaders and representatives of the greater Orange County community united to establish HEEF, formally launching the campaign in January 1994 with the goal of raising $1 million within five years. In 1998, HEEF celebrated the attainment of its $1 million goal. As of July 31, 2010, HEEF’s endowment stands at nearly $2.4 million. HEEF has awarded over $1.4 million in scholarships since its inception.

An exciting and unprecedented initiative for Orange County, HEEF now represents a broad base of participation – from educators to business leaders, and individual donors to the largest companies in the county and it is governed by volunteers serving on a fifteen member Executive Committee.

HEEF has established an umbrella organization, bringing together similar smaller funds, resulting in a unique structure that allows donors to designate their contributions to specific scholarship funds. These include: Adorno, Yoss, Alvarado & Smith, Architecture & Engineering, Angel & Rosemary Varela Scholarship Fund, The Arts, Association of Hispanic Professionals for Education, Chapman University, De La Libertad Scholarship Fund, The Eisner Foundation, The El Viento Foundation, Fernando & Olga Niebla, Friends of California State University at Fullerton/Richard Bermudez, Friends of the University of California at Irvine, Healthcare Education, Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation, Hispanic Ba r Association of Orange County/Wally Davis Memorial, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Council of Realtors, Jose Angel Garibay Memorial, The Luévano Foundation, MANA De Orange County (Mexican American National Women’s Association), Mike Carona Foundation, National Hispanic Business Women’s Association, New Century Financial Corporation, Orange County Register/Excelsior, Orange County’s United Way, Sage Hill School, Soka University of America, Southern California College of Optometry, Union Bank of California and Vanguard University.