Palm Desert, Calif., (November 5, 2013) – The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation surprised a crowd of California State University, San Bernardino supporters Sunday night with the announcement of a new H.N. and Frances Berger Expendable Scholarship Fund for students enrolled at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus.
A $250,000 fund will award five $5,000 scholarships annually over a ten-year period beginning in Fall 2014. Scholarships will be presented to Riverside County students attending California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus who are studying allied health, including nursing, nutrition, kinesiology, physical therapy and/or education. Scholarship recipients will be required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA and show financial need.
“The H.N. and Frances Berger Scholarship Fund is an exciting way for us to continue our partnership with California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, which we have been supporting for more than a decade,” said Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. “It’s important to us to provide more opportunities for our local students to attend our valley’s only four-year university.”
The Foundation has been an active participant in the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Scholarship Dinner since its inception four years ago. This year, the Foundation underwrote the entire event, which allows all funds raised the night of the dinner to go directly to student scholarships. Sunday, at Bellatrix Restaurant at The Classic Club, supporters participated in a “Raise Your Paddle” live auction, which generated an additional $45,000 for the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Scholarship Fund.
Entertainment at the event, dubbed a “Rat Pack Evening” was provided by Deana Martin, the very proud daughter of iconic entertainer, Dean Martin. She not only belted out familiar tunes, but also captivated the crowd of about 100 with stories about her father, “Uncles” Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. and other showbiz luminaries.
Attendees included Ron and Sherrie Auen, Dick and Jan Oliphant, Catharine Reed, Thomás Morales, President CSUSB, Evy Morales, Fred Jandt, Dean of CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, Harold Matzner, Jim Houston and Patricia Bosley, Helene Galen and Jamie Kabler, Mona and Ed Sher, Phil and Lee Hixon, Peggy Cravens, John and Sharon Welty, Ray and Rhonda Smith, Vince and Jodi Feragamo, John Campbell, Jack and Eleanora Jones, Frankie Randall, Melinda Read, Bill and Barbara Marx, Patrick Evans, along with local dignitaries and philanthropists.
