The Silicon Valley Realtors Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, has created a scholarship endowment for student veterans at Foothill and De Anza Colleges. "The John Tripp-Silicon Valley REALTORS® Veterans Scholarship Endowment" was formally presented to officials of both colleges last week.
The scholarship endowment was created by the Realtor foundation in memory of John Tripp, a longtime Los Gatos resident and Realtor, who died on December 27, 2015. Tripp was a veteran of the Korean War and served his country with honor and distinction from 1947 to 1956.
A Realtor for over 50 years and past president of the local trade association, Tripp was instrumental in "Realtors Honor Veterans," the Realtor fundraising event held last year to establish a veterans scholarship fund to support eligible U.S. veterans residing in the Realtor association's traditional service area who wish to further their education. At the event, Realtors and guests raised about $40,000 for further education for U.S. veterans.
The Silicon Valley Realtors Charitable Foundation is a trust which makes grants available to organizations from donations by its Realtor and affiliate members. Earlier this year, the foundation presented $10,000 each to Palo Alto University and West Valley College. The remaining funds were devoted to the scholarship endowment to Foothill-De Anza Foundation, an auxiliary organization of the Foothill-De Anza Community Colleges District.
"In all he did, John emphasized education, ethics and the Golden Rule. The opportunity to grow through education was very near and dear to his heart, and with the establishment of this endowment, we honor his contributions to our community and our profession," said Charitable Foundation president Eileen Giorgi.
Over the course of his career as a Realtor, Tripp served on the boards of directors for the local trade association, the California Association of Realtors at the state level and the National Association of Realtors at the national level. He was 2006 association president and president of the Silicon Valley Realtors Charitable Foundation board of trustees. Tripp served as 1977 president of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Board of Realtors and was twice honored as Realtor of the Year.
At the presentation were Tess Chandler, executive director, Foothill-De Anza Colleges Foundation; Dennis Cima, development director, DeAnza College, Foothill-De Anza Colleges Foundation; and Teresa Ong, dean, Disability Resource Center & Veterans Programs, Foothill College. They expressed the colleges' deep appreciation of the Realtors' investment in their student veterans.
"Thank you on behalf of our foundation and student veterans. This is a perpetual scholarship that will grow through the years and be here even after we are all gone," said Chandler. "This endowment will give our student veterans from both colleges needed assistance to reach their academic goals."
Chandler added that Foothill and De Anza Colleges provide outstanding academics and opportunity for student veterans to reach their academic goals at an affordable cost. "Many of our veterans try and reserve the use of their GI Bill education benefits for the more expensive four-year institutions and truly do need additional assistance while attending our colleges," said Chandler. "Many of our student veterans are underserved, first in their family to attend college, and/or are working more than one job and supporting families."
The endowment will pay out a $1,000 award each year - $500 for a student veteran on each campus. The awards can be used for book vouchers student fees and/or other education expenses.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.