Growing up in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of East Los Angeles was challenging for Elizabeth, but she never allowed poverty and gang violence to become obstacles. In her 2010 Variety scholarship application, Elizabeth wrote “Growing up in poverty has never been easy, but it has taught me to be humble and appreciate the little things in life so that I may take every opportunity given to me.” Three years later, Elizabeth is a Junior at Wellesley College in Massachusetts pursuing a double major and looking forward to studying abroad her next semester!

Since 1972, the Variety of Southern California Scholarship program has awarded over 360 deserving teens approximately $1.5 million dollars in scholarships to pursue their dreams of bettering their lives through a college education. Among our college graduates are the Mayor of Los Angeles, doctors, lawyers, teacher and other community leaders.