$148K In Scholarships Awarded To Former Sonoma County Foster Youth

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — More than three dozen former foster youth are set to receive a financial boost to their bid for a college education after Sonoma County officials on Monday announced $148,000 in scholarships for them.

The scholarships are in partnership with the Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation and the Sonoma County Human Services Department. The program started in 2006 and has provided over $1.4 million in scholarships to 393 former foster youth pursuing a college education or trade certification.

"The county is so proud of these rising stars who have been through so much yet graduated high school and are now pursuing a college degree or trade credential," said Chris Coursey, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. "This scholarship fund is one way we can support youth who have been through the foster care system. But it also makes our entire county stronger as these young people put their new knowledge and skills back into our community."

The scholarships will help recipients pay for tuition, books, housing, food, and other necessities.

Donna Broadbent, director of the Human Services Department, said the awardees are first-generation college students navigating the complicated systems of higher education and establishing a new legacy for their families.

"Their accomplishments are incredible and deserve to be celebrated. This is not just about money, although the money is very helpful," Broadbent said. "The Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation takes the time to know each recipient individually. They are a community-driven safety net of support, guidance, and care for these young adults."

Some former foster youth who received an annual scholarship from the program said it offered them a chance at life to realize their dreams without stressing over their financial security.

"Getting this scholarship takes out a lot of stress and just lets you focus on being 18 and being a good student," said Alexander Crossman, a former foster youth who has received an annual scholarship from the program since 2016 and is now studying for his master's in business administration at Sonoma State University.

The scholarship provides more than money, Crossman said, in that it also gives guidance, financial support, or help with paperwork.

"I had to get a small surgery recently, the cost would have really hurt me. So I called up the foundation, and they paid for it," Crossman said.

The scholarship fund was established by Dianne Edwards, former director of the Human Services Department, who asked friends for donations instead of a gift to commemorate her retirement in 2006.

Since 1994, the partnership between Sonoma County Human Services Department and Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation has gone beyond scholarships by raising funds for the construction of an emergency children's shelter, expanding community awareness of the challenges faced by foster youth and developing new resources to support the needs of current and former foster youth.

The award luncheon will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 20, at the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chambers in Santa Rosa. Speakers at the event will include Cheyenne McConnell, a senior at Sonoma State University earning a degree in psychology, and Aliyana Montevirgen, another senior at Sonoma State pursuing a major in criminal justice.

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