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Immigrant Made From Roots to College Scholarship Fund

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Organized by
Dr. Antonio Martinez
Fund cover image
$55
Raised of $1,000 goal

100% tax-deductibleNo fees

100% goes to scholarship recipients

Contributions

1
    A

    Anonymous

    $55

Our story

I grew up in Richmond, California, in a community where many families carried the weight of poverty, instability, and limited access to opportunity. In my own family, higher education was not a blueprint that was passed down. The people I love worked hard, sacrificed, and did the best they could with what they had, but college systems were unfamiliar and often intimidating. I had to learn how to navigate financial aid, academic expectations, and institutional culture while also carrying the pressure of making my family proud and not wasting the sacrifices that got me there. Over time, I was able to earn my Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degree, and my life changed because of it. It changed my earning potential, my worldview, my confidence, and my ability to serve others. More importantly, it showed me that talent and potential exist everywhere, but opportunity and support do not. Today, as a College Success Coach supporting first year and second year students, I see the same patterns repeating for students who remind me of where I come from. They are brilliant, hardworking, and resilient, but they are navigating higher education without the same safety nets other students may have. Many are balancing school with work, family responsibilities, and financial pressure. Many are unsure who to ask for help, how to advocate for themselves, or how to build the relationships that make college truly life changing. And when a small financial emergency hits, a textbook cost, a laptop issue, a housing deposit, a transportation gap, that moment can quickly turn into academic disruption or even withdrawal. This fund exists to reduce those barriers and to send a message that first generation students should not have to fight alone.

Our goal

The goal of this fund is to provide direct financial support and tangible stability for first generation students, especially students from historically under-resourced communities, so they can persist in college, stay on track academically, and fully engage in the opportunities that lead to long term upward mobility. Specifically, this fund is designed to support students with: • Scholarships that reduce financial strain and allow students to focus on academics • Academic resources such as textbooks, course materials, technology, and tutoring support • Basic needs gaps such as food support, transportation costs, or emergency expenses that commonly derail progress • Transition support for key moments such as the first semester of college, transfer transition, or the final year before graduation • Professional development costs such as conference fees, internship supplies, interview attire, and career readiness preparation What success looks like This fund is not only about helping students “get into college.” It is about helping them stay, thrive, and graduate with stronger confidence and clearer direction. • Students staying enrolled and completing terms with fewer financial disruptions • Improved academic stability through access to materials, tutoring, and structured support • Increased campus engagement, including clubs, mentoring, and relationship building with professors and staff • More students securing internships, research opportunities, or career pathways earlier in college • Students graduating with less financial stress and stronger post graduation options This fund is rooted in a simple belief: talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Every contribution helps create stability for a student who is doing everything they can to change the trajectory of their family. • The short term goal is to raise $1,000 to support two students with scholarships and emergency support during the next academic year. • The long term goal is to build a sustainable annual fund that supports students every year, with transparent reporting on how funds are used and what outcomes students achieve. • Donors will help cover real costs that students face right now, including textbooks, technology, transportation, and unexpected emergencies.I am starting this fund because I know, personally and professionally, how powerful a college education can be for a first generation student, and how fragile that path can feel when money, guidance, and stability are not guaranteed.