Chi Am Circle Begins Scholarship Program

For over 25 years, the Chi Am Circle, an Asian American women’s club in Santa Clara Valley, has invested in the future by awarding scholarships to local high school seniors and community college students of Asian American descent who demonstrate academic excellence as well as involvement in the school and community. Scholarships are awarded for merit and service as well as financial need, according to Rose Tokugawa, chairwoman of the Scholarship Selection Committee.

In 2009, Chi Am Circle received more than 100 applications and honored 27 scholarships to needy and deserving high school students with $40,000 scholarship grants, due to the generosity of individual donors as well as through the Chi Am Circle’s Service Fund. At the May Award banquet held before almost 200 students and families, Chi Am members and guests, several of the recipients mentioned that they would not have been able to go to college if it had not been for their Chi Am grant. For some, they were proud to point out they would be the first in their families to have the opportunity to attend college.

Chi Am Circle welcomes any interested persons wishing to encourage our leaders of tomorrow to join their Chi Am Circle of Sponsors Scholarship Program. As Second Vice President Paulette Young Curby said, “we believe that together we can make a difference by honoring the students of today, as they become the leaders of tomorrow. Chi Am Circle is grateful for past support and would welcome any donations or personal grants of any sum, and would be guided by the donors request that their scholarship grant go towards a worthy student for academic excellence or for need.”

Chi Am Circle is a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization which makes all donations tax deductible.

All scholarship grants will be awarded at the Chi Am Circle Awards Dinner, May 14, 2010 at the China Stix Restaurant with all scholarship winners present to tell the audience of their future plans at respective colleges. Dinner Co Chairs Gerrye Wong and Wendy Fong said, “It is always heartwarming to see how grateful and happy the students are to be honored for their hard work at school and community involvement. Excerpts are often read from their entry essays, which traditionally tell their feelings about growing up Asian American. As a volunteer organization, we proudly explain that 100% of the donations go to the scholarship recipients. We welcome all to come and support these fine students.”

Rose Tokugawa, Selection Committee Chairperson, adds, “Every one of our applicants are deserving and we hope community members will step forth to enable us to honor many more of these students than in the past. Last year, it broke our hearts that we were only able to select 27 out of the over 100 applicants who wrote to us as they were all deserving and primarily all showed over 4.0 grade point averages.

In the past years, Chi Am Circle has awarded up to $20,000 in grants from their Service Fund. It is with individual sponsors joining the donor ranks in the pat 5 years that this project has been able to award up to $40,000 to deserving students, as it did in 2009. Sponsorship levels range from Friends of Chi Am $100 to Platinum Level $3000. Checks and stock donations are welcome. All donors, corporate, business or personal, receive acknowledgment ad space in the annual Chi Am Circle directory.

More information or donations can be made on-line at www.chiamcircle.org. Checks may be payable to Chi Am Circle and sent to Chi Am Sponsorship , P.O. Box 2756, Cupertino, CA 95014. Any donations and inquiries may be directed to Pauline Curby, pcurby@sbcglobal.net by March 15.

Chi Am Circle is a non profit Asian American women’s organization established in 1965. Chi Am is built on a foundation of friendship with a mission of service in the community. Their community projects are diverse and affect a broad range of the community. Chi Am Circle values education. Over the past 25 years, Chi Am has given hundreds of scholarships to outstanding high school and community college students throughout Santa Clara County.