Skip To Content
Filter search
Cal Poly Pomona
  • LIBRARY
  • ONLINE SERVICES
  • DIRECTORY
  • MAPS
  • CALENDAR
  • About Cal Poly Pomona
  • Cal Poly Pomona Overview
  • Visitor Information
  • Campus Maps & Tours
  • News
  • Events
  • Administration
  • Annual Security Report
  • Campus Safety Plan
  • Admissions
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • Graduate Admissions
  • International Admissions
  • Continuing Education Admissions
  • Military & Veterans Admissions
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Student Accounts & Fees
  • Outreach, Recruitment, & Educational Partnerships
  • Academics
  • Colleges & Departments
  • Majors & Degrees
  • University Catalog & Academic Schedules
  • University Library
  • Research
  • Academic Resources
  • Registrar
  • Campus Life
  • Student Services
  • Student Activities
  • Recreation & Fitness
  • Health & Wellness
  • Housing & Dining
  • Diversity
  • Calendars & Events
  • Campus Safety & Emergency Info
  • Athletics
  • Visit Athletics Website
  • Alumni
  • Visit Alumni Website
  • Giving
  • Why Give
  • Ways to Give
  • Where to Give

PolyCentric University News Center

Main Menu
  • About Our University
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Campus Life
  • Athletics
  • Giving
  • Expand/Collapse Menu
Browse: Home / 2019 / September / The Bernard Osher Foundation and Crankstart Commit to Transfer Student Success

PolyCentric

University News Center

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
    • Submissions
    • Contact
    • Department of Strategic Communications
    • PolyCentric
  • News
    • Browse by Topic
    • View All Stories
    • In Memoriam
    • Archives
  • Achievements
  • Announcements
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Social Media Directory
  • Events
  • For the Media

The Bernard Osher Foundation and Crankstart Commit to Transfer Student Success

Posted on September 12, 2019

Students sitting in a classroom

Calette Garcia earned three associate degrees – early childhood education, child development and general studies of social behavior and self-development – in May 2017 before transferring to Cal Poly Pomona. This was after dropping out of college four years earlier to help financially support her mom and brother by working three jobs.

At Cal Poly Pomona, her financial responsibilities were alleviated, thanks to a scholarship from Crankstart, a nonprofit that supports educational, health and social causes.

“On my own, I will not be able to continue my education,” said Garcia, who hopes to establish a daycare or preschool for low-income families, providing opportunities they otherwise might not have. “This tuition scholarship allows me to continue to house myself and pay all necessary dues for my schooling.”

In fall 2019, about half of the 7,500 newly enrolled students at Cal Poly Pomona are transfer students. The university’s PolyTransfer program guides them in the transition to a new campus through advising, peer mentoring, workshops and other events, while scholarships from external donors help ease students’ financial concerns.

The Bernard Osher Foundation, like Crankstart, provides support for transfer students from California community colleges, enabling them to focus on their education and career development.

All 114 California community colleges receive support from the Osher Foundation, which was established by Bernard Osher and his wife, Barbro, to provide grants and endowment gifts to colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations. The foundation also awarded a $500,000 grant to Cal Poly Pomona in 2012 to establish the Osher Scholarship Endowment, which has given scholarships of $2,500 to more than 50 transfer students at Cal Poly Pomona.

“Through the Foundation’s programs, we hope to uplift the people of California by improving quality of life through investment in higher education and the arts,” said Mary Bitterman, President of The Bernard Osher Foundation. “Mr. Osher reads the many letters that come from Osher Scholars and is impressed by the perseverance and hard work of people pursuing their education while often working part-time and raising families.”

The Crankstart principals learned about Cal Poly Pomona’s dedication to transfer student success from the Osher Foundation and gave $50,000 to the university spread over the previous two academic years, starting in 2017-18, providing 20 total transfer students with $2,500 scholarships each.

The founders of both organizations are participating in The Giving Pledge, a commitment made by the world’s wealthiest individuals, couples and families to give more than half of their money to philanthropic causes. The Giving Pledge provides a forum for engaged philanthropists to discuss challenges, successes and failures to become more informed givers.

Both foundations are committed to the success of transfer students who have challenges that prevent them from being fully dedicated to their college career. Scholarships allow them to achieve their goals and contribute back to their communities.

“Continuing my education is of the utmost importance because without the proper education I will fail those children who I have high hopes for in educating,” Garcia said. “I am going to make it my goal to provide the best for my students and infants at my facility.”

Posted in News | Tags Advancement and Fundraising, Crankstart, endowment, fundraising, grants, PolyTransfer, scholarships, student success, The Bernard Osher Foundation, The Osher Foundation, transfer, transfer students

POPULAR

  • A group of students talk with Professor Zekeriya Aliyazicioglu in his engineering class (ECE3101).

    Cal Poly Pomona Rises in U.S. News Rankings

    11811 views / Posted September 9, 2019
  • Marc Rudy and Liliana Perez, both 5th year architecture majors, look at models of a Mars habitat.

    Forbes Names Cal Poly Pomona a 2019 Best Value University

    4770 views / Posted May 7, 2019
  • Administrators stand with ribbon before ceremony.

    Student Services Building Officially Opens at Cal Poly Pomona

    3564 views / Posted January 18, 2019
  • The Student Services Building.

    Open House for Student Services Building Set for Jan. 18

    3195 views / Posted January 7, 2019
  • Graduates cheer at the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences commencement ceremony.

    Commencement Features 6,400 Graduates and High-Profile Speakers

    2914 views / Posted May 8, 2019

Picture of the Day »

International Education Week

International Education Week

Cal Poly Pomona in the News »

Sixth Annual Social Mobility Index (SMI) Highlight Performance and Pitfalls as Attention to Social Mobility Grows Among US Colleges and Universities

Cal Poly Pomona ranks No. 10 on CollegeNET’s Social Mobility Index, which measures how successful a college or university is at enhancing the economic mobility of its graduates. The university…

SoCalGas Names 2019 Environmental Champions Initiative Grant Recipients


Cal Poly Pomona Expands Childcare to Benefit Student Parents


Cal Poly Pomona Graduate Ryan Cheung Chosen for Competitive Yamaha Wind Internship Program


Brewster: Local area college basketball just around the corner


Tags
Advancement and Fundraising, Crankstart, endowment, fundraising, grants, PolyTransfer, scholarships, student success, The Bernard Osher Foundation, The Osher Foundation, transfer, transfer students
About Cal Poly Pomona Feedback Privacy Accessibility Document Readers

3801 West Temple Avenue,Pomona, CA 91768

©2018 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

All Rights Reserved