The Tenderloin Scholarship Fund (TSF), established in 1990 by BAWCC, provides scholarships for Tenderloin students ages 16-25 who are pursuing their education after they have graduated from high school. These students may attend college, university, trade school, business college or other post-secondary forms of training.

Donations to the Tenderloin Scholarship Fund are given out in scholarships to the youth.

	Since the Fund was started, more than 200 scholarships have been awarded to students living in the Tenderloin.
	Sherine and Dean were two Tenderloin youth who have gone on to college with help from the Tenderloin Scholarship Fund.

These are some of the young people who have received scholarships:

Wilson lived in a three-room apartment on Ellis Street his first year in the Tenderloin. Despite the fact that sixteen people in his extended family lived in that apartment, Wilson earned excellent grades, and he maintained the quality of his work at UC Davis where he had a 3.9 grade point average. Wilson just completed a graduate program in electrical engineering.

“Education is very important to me, no one else in my family has gone to college because of the financial problem. My parents always encourage me to study hard so I could have a bright future... With the grant I will buy books, pen, highlighter, ruler and papers. I will buy fast passes...”
                                                           Dong, age 18

Sharon is the eldest of six children from a limited income, single-parent family. They have lived in a single-room apartment in the heart of the Tenderloin for eleven years. Sharon is now a sophomore at San Francisco State University and “loves” her classes.

“The reason why I'm applying for this scholarship, is because I need all the help I can get to continue my education. Since both my parents have been laid off, without their financial help it's a little tough on me...”
                                                           Victor, age 17

Jeanette is an 18-year old sophomore at San Diego State University. She has lived with her mother and sister on Eddy Street for many years. Staff from neighborhood children's programs say that Jeanette worked very hard to “make it out.” They also say that her sister didn't make it—and has become a part of the “street scene.” Jeanette is looking forward to graduating from college in one year.

We believe that the Tenderloin Scholarship Fund is a crucial resource for the Tenderloin community. Although the Fund was originally made possible by donations from awardees of the Daniel E. Koshland Awards Program of the San Francisco Foundation, it is currently maintained by individual donations to BAWCC.