Breakfast fundraiser draws over 120 guests to Beverly Hills and raises $130,000 for the Fulfillment Fund’s transformative programs.
On Tuesday, May 17, more than 120 guests gathered at Mr. C Beverly Hills for the third annual Inspiration Breakfast, raising $130,000 for the Fulfillment Fund’s life-changing college access programs.
Harlan Spinner, a Fulfillment Fund board member and long-time supporter, welcomed guests and introduced Karla Noyola, a mother of three sons, all Fulfillment Fund students. Ms. Noyola shared her perspective as a parent, and told the crowd, “I can say with certainty that the Fulfillment Fund has changed the lives of my sons and of my family.” With great joy she announced that her middle son, Jose, will be heading to Stanford University this fall on a full scholarship.
Fulfillment Fund CEO, Kenny Rogers described how the Fulfillment Fund makes going to college and graduating college a reality for students by building relationships, illuminating opportunities, and changing lives. He highlighted the organization’s dedicated staff who provide in-depth, consistent and individualized support to each and every student, year after year.
Whereas only 5 in 10 students in low-income communities who graduate high school go on to college, 9 in 10 Fulfillment Fund students do.
“My vision for the future is to build on our model and bring in more supporters and more advocates,” Rogers said. “I am determined for us to succeed so that the next generation of Fulfillment Fund students has the same opportunity Karla Noyola’s sons have, the same opportunity my own kids have.”
Fulfillment Fund alumnus Jahmeel Walker, who just days prior graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UC Merced, captivated the room with spoken word poetry and his inspiring personal story. Walker shared how the Fulfillment Fund opened his eyes to all the resources that were available to him and helped change his mindset about going to college. “College did not seem to be a realistic option until I became part of the Fulfillment Fund,” Walker said. “Without their support I don’t know where I would be today.”
View more Inspiration Breakfast photos on Flickr.
Special thanks to Anjan Choudhury, eBay, Elana & Jon Gimbel, Glaser Weil, Tracy Herriott, Karla Noyola & Family, Munger Tolles & Olson, Neutrogena Corporation, Yazmine Padilla, April Perroni, Nina Singh of Violet Grey, Wendy & Harlan Spinner, Jahmeel Walker, Lindy Huang Werges, Wolfgang Puck Catering, Dianna Yedalyan of Sweet Privileges andElizabeth Zamudio for their support.
Watch the video shown at Inspiration Breakfast: