About BCS

Our History

From the Berkeley Community Fund to Berkeley Community Scholars.

Berkeley has a long tradition of attracting thinkers, artists, innovators, political activists, and problem solvers who engage with challenging social issues. Our story grows from that tradition.

1991 — A community of hope

The Berkeley Community Fund was established in 1991 by founders motivated by love for Berkeley and for a community of hope and equity. Their goal was converting abstract community ideals into concrete programs addressing social and economic justice within the city.

2007 — Focusing on college access

The organization shifted focus to support Berkeley High School graduates attending college, eventually assisting over 100 BHS graduates through scholarships and mentoring.

2019 — A new name

In September 2019, we changed our name to Berkeley Community Scholars to better communicate our mission and the students we serve.

Today

We now serve more than 150 students in both community college and four-year colleges and universities throughout the U.S.

Past Board Members (since 2007)

We are grateful to the many community leaders who have guided our work over the years:

  • Ginger Alafi
  • Marcia Argyris
  • Gwen Austin
  • Caroline Avery
  • Skip Battle
  • Robert Berdahl
  • Diana Burden
  • Carole Berg
  • Diana Bermudez
  • Carol Brosgart
  • Ina Bendich
  • Thomas Burcham
  • Bob Burnett
  • Dash Butler
  • Ann Marie Callegari
  • Fr. Rigoberto Caloca-Rivas
  • Keith Carson
  • Paul Chapman
  • Dennis Cohen
  • Penny Cooper
  • Narsai M. David
  • Martin De Mucha Flores
  • Abigail Garcia
  • Chuck Fanning
  • Maggie Gee
  • Mia Gittlen
  • Susie Goodin
  • Loni Hancock
  • Rashida Hanif
  • Ira Michael Heyman
  • Oseyi Ikunobe
  • Adena Ishii
  • Marcus Ison
  • Eric Jung
  • David Kruse
  • Jeffrey Leiter
  • Dan Lindheim
  • Barbara Marienthal
  • John Martin
  • Shane McGilloway
  • Stephanie McKown
  • Dahnesh Medora
  • Helen Meyer
  • Regina Minudri
  • Kent Nagano
  • Noel Nellis
  • Steven Oliver
  • Rachelle Owen
  • Allison Bernstein Paillant
  • Martin Paley
  • Jessica Pers
  • Christina Platt
  • Henry Ramos
  • Charles Robinson
  • Victoria Robinson
  • William Rogers
  • Jules Roman
  • Michael Roosevelt
  • Tina Self
  • Patricia Shanks
  • Rebecca Silbert
  • Amrita Singhal
  • Kad Smith
  • Ann Smulka
  • Janet Tam
  • Alison Teeman
  • Chang-Lin Tien
  • Michael Traynor
  • Dorothy Walker
  • Mal Warwick
  • Ursula Yearwood