The California Grocers Association Educational Foundation has reached a milestone of $10 million in college scholarship funds for grocery industry employees and their dependents.
Since its inception in 1998, CGAEF has raised $10 million to award 6,571 scholarships to California Grocers Association member company employees and their dependents in pursuit of a higher education.
For the 2024-25 program year, the CGA Educational Foundation awarded more than $780,000 in college scholarships to 363 students. Included in these funds was the sixth annual $10,000 Legends of the Industry scholarship, awarded to Jessica Jimenez, assistant store director at Gelson’s Markets.
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“This outstanding $10 million milestone is a testament to the incredible generosity of the grocery industry and its commitment to invest in the educational aspirations of our employees and overall success of our workforce,” said CGA President Ron Fong.
“The foundation takes tremendous pride in the work we have done, and will continue to do, to make a difference in the lives of hardworking grocery employees and their families.”
CGA Educational Foundation scholarships are open to high school seniors, college undergraduate and graduate students who are employees of, or the dependent sons or daughters of employees of, a CGA member company. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, evidence of outstanding character and leadership potential.
“It’s not uncommon that entry-level grocery employees work their way up to the c-suite. Our scholarship program allows CGAEF to help advance and retain talent in the grocery industry to develop the next generation of industry leaders,” said Jacquie Slobom, chair of the CGAEF board of trustees. “This $10 million milestone has helped thousands of grocery employees achieve their dreams.”
