Sonora, CA…Sonora Area Foundation announces that the 2017 scholarship season has been completed and record totals recorded. According to program manager, Lin Freer, “2017 Scholarships awarded total $371,000 with 170 awards going to 125 Tuolumne County students. This eclipses last year’s then record of $266,000 granted in 2016.” The bulk of the increase was attributed to local technology company Front Porch which substantially increased both the number of scholarships awarded and in many cases the size of the award. The company has a long history of supporting education programs in Tuolumne County and the relationship with Sonora Area Foundation was cited as a major factor related to the increased giving. “Sonora Area Foundation makes it possible to help meet needs in the community,” said CEO Zach Britton. “With the scholarships, they take care of everything; they track all the details, verify the transcripts and cut the checks. That would be a lot of work for us. They do a great job of doing all the legwork and they don’t charge any fees.”

Sonora Area Foundation donors Dan Imfeld and Reb and Susan Silay also increased the number of scholarships awarded from their respective funds held at the Foundation.

2018 promises to be another banner year for scholarships awarded by Sonora Area Foundation as several new funds have been or are in process of being established including; the Restivo Music Scholarship, in memory of long time area music teacher Rick Restivo and 2018 will also mark the first year of awards from the HealthLitNow Healthcare Career Scholarship Fund.

Sonora Area Foundation holds over 70 scholarship funds providing support for a wide variety of educational endeavors including those planning to stay local and attending Columbia College, those aspiring to four year institutions and individuals pursuing vocational programs and trade schools.

The Sonora Area Foundation is a Community Foundation incorporated in 1989, commencing operations in 1990. Its mission is to strengthen our community by promoting philanthropy through assisting charitable donors, making grants to worthy projects and programs and providing leadership on local issues.

The Sonora Area Foundation, along with two supporting organizations, the Irving J. Symons Foundation for Tuolumne County and The Symons Family Fund, has assets of approximately $43 million. The Foundation holds and administers more than 170 charitable funds set up for a variety of charitable purposes and educational scholarships. The governing boards of the Foundation and supporting organizations regularly award grants that fulfill needs in Tuolumne County and exceed $23.5 million since inception.

The Sonora Area Foundation is a member of the Council on Foundations, a national membership organization for community foundations. For information on grant applications, making a donation or establishment of a donor fund, contact the Foundation at 209-533-2596 or through its website www.sonora-area.org.