Donor Fund Stories

Christopher A. Burrows Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Christopher A. Burrows Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Christopher A. Burrows, a 1976 graduate of Crescenta Valley High School and La Cañada resident, who passed away on January 9, 1999 from a malignant brain tumor. Chris Burrows was an attorney, active community volunteer, a loving husband and father of four, and devoted friend who encouraged young and old alike.

The founders of the endowment fund envisioned the Christopher A. Burrows Memorial Scholarship as a well-recognized, prestigious award for students in the Crescenta-Cañada Valley. Burrows Scholars must demonstrate a high level of academic and extra-curricular achievement, strength of character and zest for life.

A former student body president and outstanding athlete, musician and scholar at Crescenta Valley High School, Chris will long be remembered by his family and the many friends he made during his life.

According to neighbor and close friend, Tim McQuay, "Chris was a devoted and loving husband and father and a great, loyal friend."

The Christopher A. Burrows Memorial Scholarship Fund provides a fitting legacy for an exceptional man who died too young.

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RENEE (Remedial Education Needs Empathetic Endeavors) Fund

Renee Riendeau established the RENEE donor-advised fund. She spent many years as a special education needs examiner for the Glendale Unified School District and has been instrumental in organizing swim programs for special needs students at the AAF Rose Bowl Aquatics Center.

Riendeau says, "Upon my retirement from the School District, I received quite a sum of money from friends at a going-away party. But, I just couldn't keep the money for myself." Instead, she parlayed it with some of her own money to create the Remedial Education Needs Empathetic Endeavors (RENEE) Fund.
" I knew that the Glendale Community Foundation has been helping donors realize philanthropic dreams for many years and felt I could entrust the creation of my fund with them. The purpose of the fund is to offer small scholarships for 'life lessons' to learning disabled children who had experienced some very unfortunate and tragic situations."

The Fund has already made grants to benefit 31 children.

Click here to see the RENEE website.

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Women's Fund

The Women's Fund was established in 1998 by a dozen forward looking, Glendale-area professional women.

As an endowment, the fund will grow over the years and is intended to support local programs, projects and issues that strengthen the abilities and accomplishments of women and girls.

Although the fund will be flexible, grants may be made to organizations that help women find resources to begin their lives over again. Such projects might be money-management seminars, self protection classes, the battered women's shelter, or for college scholarships to women needing more information.

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Dr. Thomas J. Iberti Memorial Fund

Dr. Iberti was raised in Glendale and became an internationally known doctor. He was the director of Intensive Care as well as the Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City until his untimely death in 1993. During his lifetime he would often use his rare off time to help the homeless in New York.

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G.J. Liotta Honorary Fund

Mr. Liotta spent 40 years at Toll Middle School, teaching 8th grade science and 9th grade photography from 1945 to 1960 and as Assistant Principal from 1960 to 1985. At his retirement party in 1985, Mr. Liotta received monetary gifts which he chose to use to disburse annually to one of Toll's academic departments, chosen randomly. Once all departments had received a grant, the process began again.

The G.J. Liotta Honorary Fund was established to perpetuate this annual award. The selection of each year's winning department will continue to be selected randomly so as to be a surprise for the department head. in addition, the G.J. Liotta Service Award is to be presented to an 8th grade student at Toll's annual commencement exercises. The award was established in the 1970s by the Toll PTA to recognize a student who performed voluntary service to the school. The winning student is chosen by the school's assistant principals and counselors and will receive a gift certificate.

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Dr. John and Mae Benjamin Endowed Scholarship Fund

Dr. John Benjamin is an internationally prominent urologist. Mrs. Benjamin says, "My husband lived on an L.A. County farm while he worked his way through UCLA. He had to take a street car to college every day. From there, he had eight years of medical school and residency and came out deeply in debt. He worked so hard to get through school that I wanted this fund to help others pursue their medical dreams."

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Cecilia and Herman Barnes Endowment Fund

Son, Tom, and grandson, Bradley, decided that there should be an endowment fund established for this pioneering couple.

For decades, they were instrumental in the fabric of local, social, and philanthropic and business life here in Glendale. The fund will help a variety of charities including the Glendale Host Lion's Club and others.

Mrs. Barnes was born in Glendale, the daughter of parents who began their early 1900s career as merchants in the Tropico section of Southern Glendale and founded one of the first banks in town. "Cece" and her husband "Herm" followed in these entrepreneurial steps by founding the Herman E. Barnes Company & Insurance Agency. Mr. Barnes was a past president of the Glendale Community Foundation.

According to longtime friend Jim Bishop (also a past board member), "They were both very generous to our community. In fact, Herm, as the mayor, founded the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast which continues even today."

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Glendale Scholarship Endowment Fund

When current Glendale Unified school Board President Chuck Sambar thinks of his own immigrant roots, he says, "The United States is known around the world for its great educational system. And Glendale has always excelled in its preparation of our students.

"But after four decades in Glendale education, I find that many students leave our schools prepared to continue their education but are unable to do so because of family need or lack of encouragement. So I started the Glendale Scholarship Endowment Fund with the Glendale community Foundation to ensure a perpetual supply of money for tomorrow's students."

When Marilyn Wiechmann and Dick Seeley began their "Giggles Dance Nights" in 1995, they could hardly anticipate the legacy they would be creating.

And when area students began dancing their brains out at the Brand Blvd. nightclub they could never have imagined that they would be helping future area students.

But that's exactly what they ended up doing by selling enough tickets to the periodic Wednesday night student dances that they were able to contribute more than $3,500 to the Glendale Scholarship Fund at the Glendale Community Foundation.

And when Edmond and Garnik Galoostian began donating the use of their Brand Blvd. business as a safe and secure place for local high schoolers, they simply wanted to help today's kids. But they put in motion the means by which as many as 1,500 kids a year attended the dances, paying $10 at the door for a night of dancing, pizza, soda and pool.

A mixture of students from both public and private high schools in La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, and Glendale, the dances made an inadvertent profit. When their administration was turned over to the Glendale Family YMCA earlier this year, Wiechmann and Seeley turned to the Community Foundation.

"We felt that the kids who have come to the dances over the years would want the profits to be used for other students," said Wiechman. "So, after talking with staff of the Community Foundation, we found that Chuck Sambar had started an endowed scholarship fund that would provide a steady stream of earnings for future kids. And we liked that these scholarships would be for either college or vocational students."

Seeley added, " The history of the Community Foundation gave us peace of mind that the money will be well used for many years to come."

Chuck Sambar, President of the Glendale Unified School District and founder of the Scholarship Fund said, "Each year, approximately 2,000 Glendale students earn a high school diploma. Nearly half of them come from poverty homes. Most are intelligent, academically prepared and have the potential to further their education - either academically or vocationally. Unfortunately, many do not achieve their potential because of family need and responsiblity and/or lack of encouragement, support or resources. This would, at least, provide some of the financial resources."

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Irvin Dinley / Daniel Samaniego Endowment Fund

"Irvin never went to college, " says Daniel. "But he has always wanted to help others to have the education opportunities that he didn't have."

Daniel, too, has sought to help others, spending much of his career with the Employment Development Department "finding jobs for people," he says. He feels it's very rewarding to help people help themselves.

"Education gives a sense of self-accomplishment, an appreciation of knowledge; and it opens your mind to things you may not have known about." Dan adds, "It feels good that you can affect others' lives and organizations that help people. And in what better way? Students, homeless and health."

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Helen Gregory Casa Adobe Endowment Fund and Stephen "Buzz" Gregory Endowment Scholarship Fund

Long-time resident Helen Gregory passed away in March 2000 leaving a legacy of docent service to the Casa Adobe de San Rafael, one of Glendale's most historic buildings. But she wanted to make sure that her legacy carried long into the future and that there was an active community interest in the Casa and the early Spanish heritage of the city of Glendale.

Mrs. Gregory also wanted to memorialize her son "Buzz" who lost his life prematurely. Buzz was a race car driver.

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Ruth G. Jansen Education Memorial Fund

When Ruth Jansen passed away in 1987 many of her friends with the help of the California Arts Educators Association created the Ruth Jansen Foundation. Among the local residents who have served on the Board of Directors over the years are Glendalians John and Audrey Welch as well as Jackie and Mari Carlos.

According to Audrey, "Since Ruth's life-long passion was helping students understand art, one of the primary goals of the Foundation was to help local art students."

"But her main career was instructing teachers so each year we also commission three unique art works and present them along with cash awards to the outstanding art teachers in Northern, Central and Southern California. In this way, Ruth's passion for art influences many generations of artists."

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Jim and Betty Bishop Endowment Fund

Jim and Betty Bishop have long been champions for local youth and their sporting activities. In addition to being the head of Glendale's Parks and Recreation Department for decades, Jim taught, coached and supervised scores of youth sports. Betty has had a lifelong interest in children, spending several years teaching daycare and working at Glendale Community College and Balboa Elementary School.

The Bishops established this fund to foster and improve sporting activities for children throughout the Southland. Jim, a former professional baseball player, says, "I think athletics influence both the body and the mind. Sure, it builds strong physiques but it also teaches teamwork, cooperation and compromise."

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Rachel & Eric Ashton, Jr. Fund

Board Member Eric Ashton and his new wife Rachel established this family donor-advised fund for general purposes. Already, the Ashtons have made a grant to Child SHARE to help recruit, train and prepare foster families and to Camp Max Strauss for children who have social, physical, and/or emotional disabilities and come from foster or one-parent family homes. “My parents have had a donor-advised fund for several years and I have noticed how it can make giving, both convenient and effective,” says Ashton. “My involvement with the Community Foundation has given my wife and me an opportunity to learn about agencies and grant opportunities that would not come to our attention otherwise.”

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Glendale Host
Lions Club Fund

Upon the demise of this venerable Lions Club, the members decided to establish a fund with the Community Foundation to benefit seven specific agencies that they had been contributing to for many years.

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Hughes Family Fund

The Paul A. Hughes Foundation, a private foundation created in 2000 upon the passing of a major principal of the family-owned Hughes Markets Company, established a donor-advised fund with the Glendale Community Foundation this past year. Teresa Hughes Velona, director of the Hughes Foundation said, “My father wanted us to carry on and support the Glendale that he loved for the majority of his life. We felt that the ability of the Glendale Community Foundation staff to advise us of philanthropic opportunities in our own community would help us make strategic grants and really help people.”

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Linda Weeshoff Memorial Character & Ethics Fund

Prior to her passing late last year, former Glendale Unified teacher Linda Weeshoff, had long been interested in improving the character and ethics of local children. She taught in the district for many years at Cerritos, Keppel, and Marshall elementary schools and impacted thousands of young lives. So after 32 years of marriage, Dave Weeshoff sought a way to not only have her remembered in the community but to continue the contributions she made to Glendale’s youth. In her memory, he created the Linda Weeshoff Memorial Character and Ethics Fund, to support programs, efforts, and opportunities which encourage such traits as honesty, integrity, and punctuality. “Linda really believed in the legacy that adults give to children which enable them to go out in the world as productive, honorable citizens. Anything that fosters and encourages those traits could be candidates for grants from this fund,” said Weeshoff. As an endowed donor-advised fund, it will generate earnings year after year. Tom Miller, Executive Director for the Foundation said, “We will act as the eyes and ears for the family and bring them funding opportunities.”

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Simpson Family Fund

Board Member John Simpson and his wife Ginny established this donor-advised fund for general purposes. “We are contributing to the fund over time and intend to both initiate grants as well as look to the Community Foundation staff to bring us grant opportunities as time goes on. I was the beneficiary of a small scholarship when I was in college and I’d also like to help students.”

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Shirley & Joel Youngquist
Nursing Scholarship Fund

Former Glendale Community College (GCC) Economics Professor Joel Younquist and his wife Shirley, the first woman GCC student body President, recently established an endowed scholarship fund to benefit Nursing students at the College. “California is woefully in need of qualified nurses,” said Sharon Hall, Dean for Allied Health at the College. “We rank 50th in the U.S. in terms of nurses.”

The Shirley and Joel Younquist Fund provides one annual $1,000 scholarship to a student in the nursing program at GCC. Students are evaluated on the basis of financial need, a goal of at least an AA degree in nursing, and residency in Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, or Verdugo City for the past three years. No specific GPA is required. Students may be eligible to renew the scholarship. Joel said, “The ties between our family, the College, and the nursing profession made it natural for us to want to help future students. We felt that the Community Foundation’s endowed scholarship program would be an eaeasy way to perpetuate that assistance.”

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Jim & Michaelynn Cashion Fund

For general purposes.

Stephen Bache Family Fund

For general purposes.

Stephen Hedlund Fund

This fund was established by John and Virginia Hedlund in memory of their son, Stephen. The donors have a general interest.

Timothy & Tiffany Trinidad Fund

For general purposes.

The California Endowment Fund

The California Endowment (TCE) has provided to the Glendale Community Foundation initiative funding to regrant for health-related projects and programs. The most recent receipt of funds was for “safety net agencies”—those that provide critical services of food, shelter, health services, mental health counseling, domestic violence prevention, disaster relief, etc. The grants are intended to help these safety-net providers who have been negatively impacted by the economy and the terrorist events of Sept. 11.

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Thomas Eli & Jessie V. Barnes Fund

Tom Barnes established this fund in memory of his grandparents, Thomas Eli and Jessie V. Barnes. The fund is endowed such that only the earnings are to be used to make general interest grants in the greater Glendale area.

Oliver C. & Minnie Bell Logan Fund

Tom Barnes established this fund in memory of his grandparents, Oliver C. and Minnie Bell Logan. The fund is endowed such that only the earnings are to be used to make general interest grants in the greater Glendale area. Mr. Logan was a community activist, most notably in opposition of parking meters in the early days of our community. Mrs. Logan supported efforts to help young, unwed mothers.

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Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Educational Endowment Fund

This endowment fund was created by local resident Mary Pinola in 2002 following the 14th annual Smart-A-Thon. The earnings from the fund are used to make grants to nonprofit agencies in the Crescenta Valley. A selection committee including members of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce advise the Foundation of worthy causes, needs and issues.

Click here to learn more.

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Emeritus Board Rescue Fund

Emeritus Community Foundation Board members established this fund in 2002 to "keep a hand" in the grant-making activities of the Community Foundation. It is designed to have the Fund's earnings “come to the rescue” of a project, proposal or opportunity that is coming up just a little bit short of money.

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