On the Town: Realtors association awards scholarships
The work of a Realtor is to make dreams come true by helping people find, purchase or sell their residential, commercial or investment property.
In Burbank, local Realtors take the dream-making part of their job to another level by awarding scholarships to those who are pursuing their dream of attending a college, university or trade school.
Awarded through the Burbank Assn. of Realtors’ charitable arm, the Community Service Foundation, $26,000 in scholarship grants were awarded to 14 local men and women during a presentation held at the association’s Magnolia Boulevard headquarters this past week.
Presided over by the association’s president Julian Munoz, past president Eric Benz, foundation chairwoman Marion Chase and committee member Christopher John Rizzotti, last week’s presentation saw the highest amount of scholarships granted since the foundation was established in 1987.
Calling the city of Burbank’s future bright due to the caliber of academic excellence of the recipients, Benz cited the work of the foundation to be one of the most rewarding components of the association’s long-standing commitment to the betterment of Burbank.
“It’s an honor to be involved with a (foundation) that helps students achieve their dreams,” Benz said.
Local high school students who received grants from the organization’s scholarship fund were Marina Hovanisyan, Rachelle Choi, Brian Kaplan, Paul Cho, Alejandra Moreno, Maeliss Gelas, Julianna Marx, Juliana Pineda, Nathaniel Low and Nikki Jew.
Four other recipients — Serjio Anleu, Yun Chang, Candace Fournier and Kevin Zhang — also received scholarships through the generosity of Ray and Bonnie Adams, who sold their 1959 Pontiac Bonneville to fund the grants.
Along with an overflowing assemblage of local Realtors and affiliate members, last week’s event was also attended by the association’s chief executive Cheritta Smith, Community Service Foundation committee members Linda Roberts, Karen Volpei-Gussow, Shelly Valencia, Alisa Cunningham and John Scarff, association staff members Dusty Brandel, Adriana Contreras, Yael Wachspress, Yesenia Ellis and Carlos Espinoza Jr. and Burbank Unified school board members Dave Kemp, Larry Applebaum, Roberta Reynolds, Ted Bunch and Charlene Tabet.
The Community Service Foundation is a nonprofit group comprised of local real estate professionals who support housing and education in the community through leveraging resources by fundraising, allocation and service.
They also mentor and educate stakeholders, veterans, students and housing professionals to promote financial stability, leadership, education and counseling in the community.
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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
