Giving Parents a Choice ♦ Giving Children a Chance

Anaheim Bulletin

November 20, 2003

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Group seeks to offer scholarships

By Olivia Maciel

The Southern California Children's Scholarship Fund has launched a scholarship program that will offer up to $1.2 million if partial tuition grants to as many as 240 low-income Anaheim students in kindergarten through fifth grade – if is raises $193,000 by Jan. 31.

 David and Diane Steffy of Newport Beach issued a $400,000 dollar-for-dollar challenge to launch the Anaheim Challenge for Education program.

The Children's Scholarship Fund will match another 50 percent, or $40,000, of the possible $800,000 in local support, raising the total to $1.2 million.

So far, the organization has raised $207,000, $100,000 of which was donated by the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Anaheim was chosen among other Orange County cities because of its crowded and low-performing schools, said Michael Warder, Executive Director of the Children's Scholarship Fund.

Another factor in Anaheim’s selection is “the city’s visibility,” Warder said, referring to the city being the home of popular sports franchises, venues and theme parks.

Mayor Curt Pringle, who was selected as the honorary chairman of the Anaheim group, said he would like the city to be known for education, in addition to its tourist and sports attractions.

“It’s not a threat or a criticism to our schools,” Pringle said. “I think most (Anaheim) schools are doing a great job.”

Anaheim Challenge for Education will provide four-year scholarships to low-income families as defined by the federal lunch program.

In the Anaheim City School District, about 84 percent or 18,650 of 23,000 students qualify for a free or reduced lunch.

In the Magnolia School District, about 73 percent or 5,122 of the almost 7,000 students qualify.

The grants are only available for kindergarten though eight grade private schools. If a fight-grader applies for the four-year scholarship, if will not roll over into high school. It would only be valid for three years.

Araceli Zabala, a mother of three who already has two children enrolled in St. Anthony Claret, a Roman Catholic elementary school, attended the event to look into other options for funding her children’s education.

“I came here to learn about the program for Manuel, my 7-year-old-son,” Zavala said.

“The teacher-student ratio is too high in public schools and I want my kids to get the attention they need,” Zabala said, who mentioned that paying for a private school can be expensive.

Tuition for church members cost $350 a month or $3,500 a school year.

For non-church members, the cost is $450 a month or $4,500 a year.

Although the funding isn’t limited to students enrolled in a public school, only 20 percent of the eligible recipients can be from a private school.

Children will be selected in a random drawing in February.

Interested applicants should visit www.sccsf.org or call (562) 961-9250 for information.