2017 Awards Reception Program 2017 Awards Program_FINAL_web | Page 2

May 2017
Dear Friends,
Tonight we celebrate our 21st cohort of Scholars!
We are very proud to bring 60 new students into our program this year – our largest cohort to
date. Of the many applicants, these Scholars truly stood out for their strength, grit, and
ambition. They represent 22 high schools spanning from San Francisco to East Palo Alto, and
97% are the first in their families to attend college. We look forward to working with these
Scholars as they achieve their college dreams!
It is important to acknowledge our supporters for creating transformative possibilities. By
providing access to the Meritus program—a meaningful investment that includes financial aid,
comprehensive advising, and career development—our donors recognize that Meritus
Scholars are the future. Our supporters know that society has much to gain from the leadership
of these driven young people.
We also celebrate Meritus’ expansion into the South Bay to help move the dial on inequity for
youth from underserved communities outside of San Francisco. Thanks to a generous
investment from The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation, Meritus is partnering with the Boys &
Girls Clubs of the Peninsula for a second year to work with students from Redwood City, Menlo
Park, and East Palo Alto.
Thank you to the Meritus community for allowing us to:
» Fund the dream to make college accessible
» Guide the journey to help Scholars thrive
» Prepare for the future to launch meaningful careers that transform lives
All of us at Meritus applaud our Scholars! We look forward to seeing all that they will
accomplish, in college and beyond.
Thank you,
Diana M. Wolf
Executive Director
FUND THE DREAM
GUIDE THE JOURNEY
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE