1939 – 2021
In Memoriam
On November 4, 2021, at 82 years old, Dr. Gitnick passed away surrounded by his closest loved ones. He will be deeply missed by the staff, board, and students, past and present, and all who knew him for his unwavering passion for education and commitment to helping Los Angeles youth in underserved communities earn a postsecondary degree to uplift themselves and their families from poverty — the same poverty he faced as a young man.
Dedicating his life to saving lives and providing opportunities for the most vulnerable young people, Dr. Gitnick was first and foremost a family man. Dr. Gitnick is survived by his wife, Cherna, their four children, and seven grandchildren.
He was a friend, mentor, healer, community-builder, role model, and trailblazer. He envisioned, built, and sustained Fulfillment Fund because of his deeply held belief in the power of education. His impact on thousands of students and families has been immense and will continue in ripples of opportunity for many years to come.
We know how tremendous his impact and legacy have been. Thousands upon thousands of students have had more opportunities in life because of Dr. Gitnick’s tenacity and passion in founding this incredible organization and making sure it could be sustained for 4+ decades. Dr. Gitnick is known for always reiterating to students that they should dream big and “reach for the stars so that you will land on the moon.” In fact, when you asked him about what he loved most about Fulfillment Fund, he would always say it was our students and all the good they are doing in the world. We will miss him dearly.
To honor Dr. Gitnick’s incredible legacy, Fulfillment Fund has created the Gary Gitnick Memorial Fund, dedicated to helping students reach their fullest potential and achieve their educational and career goals. For any additional questions and larger donations, please contact us so more of your gift benefits our students directly.