Announcing the First Judy Macias Scholarship Awardees

Guest Post by The Rev. Julia McKeon (former Executive Director at Sonrisas and current Chaplain at Stanford Medical Center)

Earlier this month, the coordinating committee of The Judy Macias Young Leaders Fund announced college scholarships of $2,500 to five outstanding female graduates of Half Moon Bay High School for the coming 2021-22 academic year.

Judy Macias, a notable community leader on the Coastside for decades, died last August leaving a difficult to replace legacy of leadership bringing volunteers together to implement innovative and creative solutions to meet vital community needs. Judy’s had key leadership roles in establishing Coastside Hope, Sonrisas Community Dental Center, and Village of the Coastside among other efforts. Her life of service touched many, many people in the county as she lived out her credo of “relationships, relationships, relationships”. Judy was inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2000.

With Judy’s passing, the Judy Macias’ Young Leaders College Fund was established at PVF. The Fund honors her legacy by recognizing young women in the next generation who demonstrate notable leadership potential through their involvement in school and community service and solid academic performance. Judy was the first in her family to go to college so it also important that each student would also be the first in their family. All five young women grew up on the coastside and attended local schools.

The following students were selected to receive the award for the academic year 2021-2022:

• Angelica Hernandez-Torres, attending College of San Mateo to study Criminal Justice
• Michelle Hernandez-Zamora, attending University of California, Berkeley to study Biology
• Mitzi Hernandez-Zamora, attending University of California, Berkeley to study Biology
• Sandy Naranjo-Lopez, attending College of San Mateo to study Real Estate
• Veronica Noriega, attending College of San Mateo to study Biology

In addition to grant funding for college, the students receive mentoring and networking opportunities.

Donations through PVF will continue the scholarships for these five students through all four of their academic years. If you would like to make a donation in Judy’s memory, you can do so by credit card at the button below.

To donate by check, please make checks payable to “Philanthropic Ventures Foundation”, with “Judy Macias Young Leaders” in the memo line, and mail to: Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, 1222 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612