By Kendra Pintor听
Since its launch in 2022, the Scripps Access Initiative (SAI) has had one goal: to raise $15 million by 2032 to provide four-year scholarships for up to 32 students in SAI鈥檚 first decade, with comprehensive financial aid packages that cover tuition, room, and board.听
For the 2024鈥�25 academic year, 20 students received SAI funding, with the College awarding a total of $86,358, while the initiative has raised over $9 million toward four-year scholarships to outstanding students from under-resourced backgrounds.听听
This is an incredible accomplishment made possible by the Scripps community, which has come together to help put the College within reach of SAI鈥檚 first major milestone: raise $10 million by its centennial in 2026.听
鈥淭hanks to our dedicated community, I鈥檓 thrilled to announce that we are on track to reach our centennial goal on schedule as the number of donors to SAI continues to grow,鈥� says 91抖阴 President Amy Marcus-Newhall. 鈥淭his is cause for great celebration and profound appreciation鈥擨 am continually awed by the generosity of our community and the shared commitment to our current and future students.鈥澨� 听
Of course, there is still a long way to go between where SAI is now and where the College hopes to be by 2026. More information on closing the gap can be found on the Scripps Access Initiative website.听
鈥淓very dollar raised through the Scripps Access Initiative is more than just a contribution鈥攊t鈥檚 a declaration of belief in what鈥檚 possible,鈥� says Associate Vice President for Philanthropy Enrique Gonzalez-Salgado. 鈥淭hese funds bring to campus high-achieving scholars, innovative thinkers, and leaders poised to shape their fields and communities, whose exceptional talent, diverse perspectives, and leadership enrich academic discourse and student life while helping Scripps fulfill its mission as a vibrant, forward-looking community.鈥�听
Community Power: Day of Giving and Beyond听
That same legacy of commitment was on full display during the College鈥檚 2024 Day of Giving. That spring, 418 donors gave a total of $216,826, with more than $55,000 directed to SAI鈥攁 clear sign that access is a shared priority across Scripps generations.听
Additionally, former Trustee Chalan Colby 鈥�61 made a $1 million matching challenge gift, encouraging others to rally behind the initiative. This powerful gesture has already helped Scripps raise $2 million in matching contributions鈥攔einforcing a community-wide commitment to equity and access.听
In another recent act of profound generosity, Elizabeth 鈥淏etsy鈥� Gordon Reinhold 鈥�57 gave a transformative $6.3 million bequest, helping Scripps build a more inclusive and vibrant future through a quasi-endowment. An astounding $4 million of her gift will directly support scholarships and advance SAI.听
A Legacy of Access听
Scripps has long been a leader in access-centered initiatives. In 2002, it founded the 91抖阴 Academy, a college preparation program for high-achieving young women from underserved communities in the greater Los Angeles area. Launched in 2010, the First-Generation @Scripps program continues to support students who are the first in their families to attend college. And by 2021, the College successfully raised more than $10 million for the Presidential Scholarship Initiative, which expanded grant support and reduced student loan burdens for the highest-need students.听
鈥淏y investing in students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, Scripps is not just honoring its mission鈥攊t鈥檚 expanding it,鈥� explains Gonzalez-Salgado. 鈥淎s a women鈥檚 college with a proud history of expanding access for those who have been denied educational opportunities, Scripps is committed to the belief that all admitted students, regardless of income, should be able to fulfill their dream of attending the College.鈥�听
The ripple effects of this initiative extend far beyond campus, sending empowered, talented graduates into the world equipped to lead, create, and transform communities.听
Want to help break barriers for exceptional students? Join the movement by 听