Shortly after announcing that I would be retiring from my position as Yolo County Supervisor at the end of 2022, questions began coming in from friends wondering how they could acknowledge and celebrate this milestone. I agreed to a celebration, but only if it also served a beneficial purpose. After reflection and discussion with family, we decided to establish the Saylor Family Scholarship with the Yolo Community Foundation to give back to the communities of Davis and Winters for a lifetime of gifts and kindnesses bestowed upon our family.
The Saylor Family Scholarship will support post-secondary education for high school seniors who have faced significant life challenges, such as the loss of a parent or other trauma, teen parenting, behavioral health struggles, involvement with the juvenile justice system, or other obstacles. In addition to consideration of potential to achieve success in post-secondary education, the award criteria will place a strong emphasis on recommendations from teachers, coaches, caring professionals, or other adults who commit to supporting the student through completion of high school and the launch of their higher education pursuits.
My own high school years were erratic, but through key interventions by caring adults and peers, and with the unexpected availability of funds to begin college, I was able to finish high school, succeed in college and graduate school, and land in a place that allowed me to find and pursue my dream of public service. From our own life experiences, we know that young people are resilient and that every person blossoms on their own schedule and in different ways. Life circumstances can present significant challenges and can hinder young people in pursuit of their maximum potential. Even a single act of encouragement can open doors of opportunity for a lifetime.
Contributing to this scholarship fund helps open doors, provides a nudge, gives a boost, and invests in the future. You can donate to the Saylor Family Scholarship fund by:
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Credit Card at sacregcf.org/saylorscholarship. After inputting your donation amount, please add it to your cart and fill out the rest of your information before submitting your donation. You will receive a tax receipt confirming your donation.
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Check, which can be made out to Yolo Community Foundation with “Saylor Family Scholarship” noted in the memo. You will receive a gift letter confirming your donation after mailing your check to:
Yolo Community Foundation
PO Box 1264
Woodland, CA 95776
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Other options: Please contact Jessica Hubbard at jessica.hubbard@yolocf.org at the Yolo Community Foundation if you are interested in donating stock, real estate, or any other assets.
The Saylor Family Scholarship will provide annual awards of $1000-$2500. Decisions regarding recipients will be made by a committee comprised of members appointed by the Saylor Family and the Yolo Community Foundation. More information, including the application, can be found at: sacregcf.org/students/. Applications are due by March 10, 2023 for the 2023-24 academic year.
Thank you for your friendship over many years and for your consideration of this important investment in our future.
In Shared Service,
Don