MISSION STATEMENT:
The Mike Pollom Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization providing scholarships to deserving Coachella High School Students to attend college in order to assist in achieving potential life goals that might otherwise be unobtainable without financial assistance.
ORIGIN:
The fund was established in 2001 by the family of Mike Pollom, Norm and Bonnie Pollom to honor the memory of their son, this young (48) man, who died of cancer. At the time of his passing Mike was a Personnel Scout for the New England Patriots, and left behind his wife Tina & Two Sons, Patrick and Charlie. His father Norm was a long time Personnel Scout & Executive for the Los Angeles Rams & the Buffalo Bills. The fund was established in affiliation with the Desert Community Foundation of Palm Desert, CA, and operates under the administrative policies of the California Community Foundation.
FUNDS MANAGEMENT:
All contributions and proceeds from fund raising are held in a bank account administered by the Desert Community Foundation, 75-105 Merle Drive, Suite 300, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (Tel: 760-674-9080). The fund operates under the financial guidelines of the California Community Foundation (CCF). The California Community Foundation is one of the largest and most active philanthropic organizations in Southern California. In partnership with its donors, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations and public institutions with funds for health and human services, affordable housing, early childhood education, community arts and culture and other areas of need. Individuals and families place assets with the foundation that then handles distribution of charitable contributions, eliminating the costs and regulations of a personal foundation and matching the community's resources with the community's needs. The Mike Pollom Memorial Fund pays CCF fees of 1.5% of assets, to manage, invest and audit its funds. Additional expenses to date have averaged 18.5%; allowing 80% of proceeds for scholarships.
FUND RAISING:
The fund was initially funded with the personal contributions of the family of Mike Pollom. In 2002 an initial memorial golf tournament raised over $20,000. In 2003, a second golf tournament raised over $50,000. The third annual golf tournament netted over $60,000. In subsequent years the tournament has netted approximately $50,000 per year. The fund plans to hold an annual golf tournament to continue to add funds to be available for scholarships. The fund would like to seek out additional sources of grants and donations to continue to provide, and possibly expand its scholarship grants to needy students of Coachella High School.
MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT:
The primary fund raising vehicle has been an annual memorial golf tournament held in the Coachella Valley, the first being held in 2002 at the Marriott Rancho Las Palmas Golf Resort in Rancho Mirage, CA. The tournament is run entirely by volunteers. The first year netted had 140 players. The second year, 2003, had 168 players. In its third year 2004, there were 180 players and approximately 100 sponsors. The tournament has received increased support from NFL teams and local businesses, which provided prizes as well as logistical and financial support. The fund plans to continue to hold annual tournaments to replenish to funds distributed to scholarship students.
COACHELLA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL:
The students at Coachella Valley High School are primarily minority and underprivileged. The student population is 98% Hispanic, with 87% of the students participating in the free lunch program (California state average is 35%). 63% of the parents did not graduate from high school (State average is 16%). 58% of the students are English learners, compared with 25% statewide. The number of students graduating from high school is 508 (2003). The number of students attending college is 55. The number of students attending college receiving financial assistance is 52. Many of the very able students, who desire to go to college, are unable to obtain sufficient amounts of financial assistance to attend college. Some of these students could become significant contributors to the well being of their community, if given an opportunity for education. In many cases the only thing holding them back is a modest amount of financial aid to attend college. The fund provides that opportunity to these highly deserving, underprivileged minority students.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD PROCEDURES:
Because of the continued success of the Fund Raiser the Scholarship Students will receive $8000.00 beginning the 2011 School Year.
A committee composed of administrators and teachers at Coachella High School reviews applications made by students on an annual basis. The criteria include academic performance, need, and service to school and community. The committee makes recommendations to the fund which provides the scholarship assistance. Initially, the fund only had assets to provide $1000 per year to one student for a period of fours years. The initial goal was to be able to provide scholarships for four students on a continuing basis, for four years of college. In 2003, the fund increased its assistance to $2000 per student per year, and also increased the number of students receiving scholarships to four. In 2004, the fund increased its assistance to $3000 per student per year, and increased the number of scholarship students to five. The plan will be to provide a number of scholarships while still retaining enough assets in the foundation funds to be able to sustain the scholarship program in the future. In 2010, the assistance was raised to $8000 per year per student.