This is the second year for the Foundation’s scholarship program.  In 2008 two awards of $1,000 each were presented at the installation dinner.  This year’s scholarship recipients will receive awards of at least $1,000 each.  A total of $4,000 has been allocated for awards.

For more information and to download the application visit the Scholarship Programs page.

Montana Hull and Josh Jacoby (photo courtesy of Outword Magazine)

To a standing ovation, Rainbow Chamber Foundation president Josh Jacoby presented high school senior Montana Hull with the first Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Foundation Youth Leadership Award at the Lambda Awards ceremony held on Monday, March 23, 2009.  The award is given to a youth who has demonstrated integrity, leadership, and courage in the face of adversity.

Montana has overcome tremendous adversity in his young life.  He was placed in foster care at age 11, then lived in some 15 different homes in a three year period.  He attended eight different high schools and college wasn’t even a dream.  At age 14, Montana was referred to Sierra Adoption Services, an agency that has been extremely successful in working with LGBT children and in helping many LGBT people become adoptive parents themselves.

Through Sierra Adoption, Montana found his two moms, Jen and Minet.  Today, Montana is a successful senior at Sacramento Charter High School where he participates in track, volleyball, varsity cheerleading, and Student Senate.  He is carrying a 3.0 grade point average and has just been accepted to Sacramento State University.

The Youth Leadership Award was one of several presented at the highly successful 17th Annual Lambda Awards, benefiting the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center.  This year the Rainbow Chamber Foundation is funding programs and mental health services for youth at the Center, in addition to continuing our educational scholarship program.

The Foundation awarded two $1,000 scholarships to students at the annual dinner in 2008.  This year the Board has budgeted $4,000 for the program.  The scholarship committee will determine how these funds will be allocated.  Information about the program, including the application forms and deadlines, are available on the Foundation’s main webpage.

For more information about the scholarship committee contact Gerald Filice at info@rcfdn.org.

Stephanie Slagel (State Farm Insurance, Carmichael) is doing a phenomenal job chairing the committee, which has nearly completed all preparations.

The dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento.  TV personality Guy Farris will MC the event.  A great live auction conducted by David Sobon (Sobon Winery, Shenandoah Valley, Amador County) will be a new feature of the event; donated auction items are being actively sought.  A highlight of the event is the presentation of the Foundation’s scholarship awards.

Tickets can be purchased from the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce website.  Please go to rainbowchamber.com for more information.

Remember, the dinner is the Foundation’s major fundraiser, and makes possible our scholarship program, as well as the Foundation’s substantial donations made to the Gay and Lesbian Center in Sacramento, as well as our other work on behalf of at-risk youth in the GLBT community.

Anyone interested in more information should contact Stephanie Slagel at sponsorship@rc-foundation.org.