7 Santa Monica Teens Awarded Scholarships Totaling $21,500

SANTA MONICA, CA – Seven teens in the Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe and supervised place for young people ages 6 through 17 – were honored with personal recognition and individual scholarship funds totaling $21,500. More than 250 guests attended the May 17 event in Santa Monica, including scholarship recipients and their families, and the Chris Carrey PAL Education Scholarships donors, according to the press release.

An endowment fund has been established for the Chris Carrey PAL Education Fund through a joint gift from Ed Simmons and Standard Parking and from Neil and Karen Carrey; this fund provides scholarships for post-high school education expenses to a PAL member who meets required criteria, shows financial need, successfully completes an application package, and is selected by the Chris Carrey PAL Education Fund Committee, according to the press release.

The scholarship recipients are presented every year at the PAL Recognition Dinner and Awards Ceremony; now in its 16th year, more than 100 scholarships totaling $245,000 have been awarded to PAL youth, according to the press release.

The seven Chris Carrey PAL Education Scholarships 2018 recipients include Erica Atkins, 17, who received $3,000; Sammy Bonilla, 17, who received $4,500; Taneia Bryant, 17, who received $4,000; Katie Bravo, 17, who received $3,500; Jacob Duran, 18, who received $2,000; Kevin Felix Madrigal, 16, who received $1,500; and Jasmine Morales, 16, who received $3,000.

“PAL has allowed me to keep my focus on school and the staff constantly push me to keep pursuing my goals to get into college,” said Bonilla, who has been a PAL member for 11 years.

The Chris Carrey PAL Scholarship presenters included Phil Brock, Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica; Elaine and Joel Polachek; Karen Carrey; Neil Carrey; Ed Simmons, SP Plus; Baker & Hostetler; Mary Ann and Jim Powell; Patty and Cheryl Loggings; Laurel Rosen and Richard Laurence, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce; Kathy Irby and Lois Clark; Lauralee Asch; Helen Albright; Jean McNeil Wyner; Jack Walter; and Mike and Adrienne Blackman, according to the press release.

“On behalf of the PAL kids and our entire organization, we are extremely grateful to all of the participants in the Chris Carrey PAL Education Scholarships program,” Eula Fritz, Director at Santa Monica PAL, said. “Their donations help each student continue with their academic dream. Without their support, these kids would most likely not have an academic path to pursue.”

In addition to the scholarships presented, the annual ceremony also provides an opportunity for PAL to bestow Community Recognition awards to deserving members of the community who have had an impact on the lives of local youth – this year’s two award recipients were volunteers Ebonicia Fisher and Kevin Jackson.

Photo courtesy of Santa Monica Police Activities League