20 YEARS OF HIGHER ACHIEVEMENT
20 YEARS OF HIGHER ACHIEVEMENT
Meritus was founded in 1996 when a group of friends recognized a distinct need in their own community — talented , motivated young people were missing out on the transformative effects of higher education because they lacked the resources to attend and complete college .
Twenty years later , Meritus continues to adapt and grow with the needs of the Scholars we serve . What began as a grassroots effort to fund one student ’ s education has since become a robust college success program that serves 250 young people annually and , since 1996 , has supported more than 700 Scholars .
1996
In recognition that Meritus Scholars benefit from more than just financial support , the college advising program becomes a formal part of Meritus .
Meritus College Fund is founded by Dr . Henry Safrit and friends with one $ 10,000 award . The first Meritus Scholar , Diana Wang Louie , graduates and goes on to a successful career with Symantec and Google . In 2009 , she becomes the first Meritus Scholar to “ pay it forward ” by generously donating a full Meritus scholarship .
4
2002
2004
Seeing a need for regional dialogue about college success for low-income students , Meritus cofounds the Bay Area College Success Network . Meritus continues to play a leadership role in the network to this day .
2007
One year after our 10th anniversary , we celebrate another milestone : The 100th Meritus Scholar graduates from college !
2010
Striving to provide social and professional connections for our growing network of Scholars , the Meritus Alumni Circle is established .
2012
Meritus expands the scope of our mission beyond college graduation with the goal of creating long-term economic opportunity . The Career Connections Program , which includes paid internships and career mentoring , is officially launched .
2013
As the price of college continues to rise , we raise the Scholar investment to $ 16,000 , which includes $ 14,000 of direct financial aid and $ 2,000 toward individualized advising that spans from senior year of high school through to college graduation .
2014
With the guidance of two early-career Meritus supporters from TPG , Meritus assembles the Young Professionals Council . The YPC has gone on to raise two full scholarships and continues to support the organization through strategic initiatives .