The Crowd: Charity means helping youths succeed
The real essence of charity is rooted in the dedication of the individual to a given purpose. That passion may be derived from a religious or spiritual inspiration, or it may simply come from a humanitarian connection brought on by personal experience. Whatever the source, the charitable drive of one person can move a mountain.
This is the story of many O.C. individuals who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of others. Among the dedicated locals is Shirley Pepys of Balboa Island, who for some 20 years, along with family members including her late husband, Eric Pepys, their daughter Renee Pepys Lowe and friend Dan Houck, have supported the Orangewood Foundation with unconditional love.
In 2009, Shirley Pepys started the Advanced Studies Program for Orangewood, assisting emancipated foster youth in the pursuit of graduate degrees beyond a four-year college. The impetus came from one of Orangewood’s college scholarship students graduating from UC Irvine and earning acceptance to Harvard for graduate school.
Orangewood’s scholarships did not extend to masters programs. Advanced Studies was born, and the first of many foster youths since have been financed by the efforts of Pepys, Houck and others, including fellow Balboa Island neighbor Sandra Davis. Over the last seven-plus years, Pepys and crew have held annual fundraising dinners, golf events and, most recently, a summer dinner in Pepys’ home that brought together young recipients of scholarships for graduate studies. The students joined donors, family members and Orangewood staff in a Thursday night made-to-order taco bar provided by Petra’s Tacos.
The remarkable success can be quantified. Advanced Studies has raised the funds necessary to provide 90 scholarships totaling $621,000 in grants to 46 former foster youths. To date, 30 students have completed their degrees, with 16 currently receiving aid to continue this fall.
Among the schools attended are Harvard, USC, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, UC Irvine, Claremont, Drake, Albany Medical College and Southwestern Law, to name a few.
“We are so proud of all of our Advanced Studies students,” said Pepys. “They come from different childhoods as victims of abuse, neglect or abandonment and have overcome odds beyond imagination.”
Statistics reveal that only 54% of foster youths graduate from high school. Of the 54%, 20% attend some form of college but only 2.9% graduate. Clearly, Advanced Studies is a life-changer.
To learn more visit orangewoodfoundation.org.
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B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
