Rotary Club of Menlo Park Foundation
The Rotary Club of Menlo Park, through our non-profit charitable Foundation, annually provides need-based scholarships to local students. We have a rigorous review process and award approximately $150,000 total in a typical year. You can help a local high school student attend college by giving through our Sponsor a Scholar program
The Rotary Club of Menlo Park Foundation was founded as nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation in 1980. 100% of every dollar is contributed to support its designated mission. This formula has appealed to many generous friends who have supported the foundation, enabling the endowment to exceed $2,000,000. The foundation is the main source of funding for the service projects of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park.
Each year the Rotary Club of Menlo Park Foundation awards $70,000 to $130,000 in scholarships to deserving local high school seniors who are accepted to four year colleges.
The Application Process
Students are invited to apply in February. The Foundation’s Scholarship Committee screens applications, interviews students and awards the scholarships in May based on a combination of need, academic performance, personal qualities and aspirations. The winners are high achievers who have overcome poverty, broken families, cultural and linguistic barriers to “beat the odds.” All of them have a compelling story to tell. Committee members who participate in the interviews describe the students with admiration in terms such as “they seem to be 17 going on 40.” Their college destinations include UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Clara University, Pomona College, Reed College, Columbia, and other private colleges across the country.
Students are invited to apply in February. The Foundation’s Scholarship Committee screens applications, interviews students and awards the scholarships in May based on a combination of need, academic performance, personal qualities and aspirations. The winners are high achievers who have overcome poverty, broken families, cultural and linguistic barriers to “beat the odds.” All of them have a compelling story to tell. Committee members who participate in the interviews describe the students with admiration in terms such as “they seem to be 17 going on 40.” Their college destinations include UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Clara University, Pomona College, Reed College, Columbia, and other private colleges across the country.