Oakland A’s establish $100,000 Endowment for Peralta Community College Students

Oakland, CA – August 13, 2018 The Peralta Colleges Foundation, the independent 501(c)(3) non-profit auxiliary to the Peralta Community College District which includes Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College and Merritt College, received a $100,000 endowment from the Oakland Athletics Community Fund to support scholarships for students enrolled in various Career Technical Education (CTE) programs tied to sports management.

“The Oakland A’s financial commitment to the Peralta Colleges Foundation is another example of our positive impact in our community,” said A’s President Dave Kaval. “We are excited to support the Peralta Colleges Workforce Development programs for East Bay students.”

The Oakland Athletics Scholars Program (OASP) will initially support 4 students annually and provide scholarship for students in a variety of CTE tracks: Business; Digital Media & Communications; Information Technology; Hospitality/Retail; and Environment & Sustainability.

“We are thrilled to engage in partnership with the Oakland A’s Community Fund,” Nikki Lasley, Interim Executive Director of the Peralta Colleges Foundation. “Current and future students will benefit tremendously from this generous gift, without which many would not be able to attend college at all.”

OASP Scholarships will launch in fall of 2018 and provide assistance to qualifying students from all four colleges. Students receiving this scholarship will also be eligible (but not guaranteed) for an internship with the Oakland Athletics Organization.

“The partnership between Peralta and the Oakland A’s is vital to developing a strong workforce in the community and enhancing our region’s economic stability and prosperity,” said Debra Jones, Ed.D, Associate Vice Chancellor Workforce Development & Continuing Education for the Peralta Community College District. “Together, the Peralta Community Colleges and the Oakland Athletics strengthen our community by providing internships and job training opportunities.”

Lasley says this partnership will help the Foundation serve more students and will hopefully encourage more corporate and community investment to help close the significant gap between students in need and funding.

For more information about how to support Peralta students, visit www.peraltafoundation.org or contact Nikki Lasley, Interim Executive Director, Peralta Colleges Foundation at (510) 587-7890 or nlasley@peralta.edu.

About the Peralta Colleges Foundation

The Peralta Colleges Foundation supports academic excellence and success throughout the Peralta Community College District by building partnerships in the region to raise funds for scholarships to committed students and financial support to the four colleges that comprise the district. Nearly 89% of Peralta students qualify for financial aid with only 47% of the applicants receiving scholarship support. To learn more about the Peralta Colleges Foundation, visit www.peraltafoundation.org/donate.

About the Oakland Athletics Community Fund

The Oakland Athletics Community Fund supports programs designed to improve education; aid the underprivileged; promote crime and drug prevention; promote health awareness; and champion children and senior welfare.