Wednesday, October 8, 1997
Fulfillment Fund gives students emotional and
financial support
SCHOLARSHIP: In return for aid, recipients must give back to
community
By Marilyn King
Daily Bruin Contributor
Troubled youth with checkered paths are attending college thanks
to a statewide mentoring program.
For many youth in the inner city, there is a lack of hope and no
adequate means of getting out. With the help of the Fulfillment
Fund and its founder Dr. Gary Gitnick, many youth can now achieve
their goals.
The Fulfillment Fund is a philanthropic organization designed to
help individuals fulfill their dreams.
Started about 20 years ago by Gitnick, the program seeks to help
low income students finance their higher education, a daunting task
without outside help.
The program starts from the eighth grade and goes to the twelfth
grade. After the student graduates from high school, they are
promised a partial scholarship for the duration of their higher
education.
In return for the monetary and continual emotional support, each
student is required to give back to the community as a sort of
"repayment" for sponsoring their education.
Each student goes through five years of mentoring. In return for
their financial support, they are required to mentor at least three
individuals.
Besides the academic and monetary support through the fund, the
students develop socially as well. They are matched up with a
mentor for five years. The students can go out with their mentor
and attend the different Fulfillment Fund events.
The Fund now serves about 1,500 students from across greater Los
Angeles, from San Pedro to the north end of the San Fernando
Valley, and from East Los Angeles to the ocean. Hundreds of these
students now attend colleges and universities all over the
country.
Gitnick is a man on a humanitarian mission.
Besides being president of the Fulfillment Fund, he is a
professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Digestive
Diseases at UCLA Medical Center.
Much like the students he helps, Dr. Gitnick was a poor young
boy who grew up in a disadvantaged community. Growing up, he
recalls how his friends never had a chance for a better life.
"There was a need to confront problems that inner-city children
lack hope and no way to break free from it," Gitnick said.
What motivates Gitnick to continue the Fund is his personal
experience with a lack of educational resources, a problem many
students face, as well as the joy of seeing students succeed in the
program.
"There were gang leaders that are now going to Stanford, auto
thieves going to UCLA and drug sellers going to Harvard. I like to
see people turn themselves around," Gitnick said.
The Fulfillment Fund and Dr. Gitnick have helped many grateful
students.
Benjamin Aydindzhyan, who graduated from UCLA in 1996, became
aware of the Fulfillment Fund through his twelfth grade high school
counselor.
Different from other participants, Aydindzhyan started late in
the program but still benefited from it in his career.
"I wrote an essay for the scholarship, received a letter saying
that I was accepted and received my sponsor," explained
Aydindzhyan.
Aydindzhyan did not participate in the academic aspect of the
program because of his late start, but was involved in the
internship program.
"The internship training was very helpful. I grew closer with
the fund," said Aydindzhyan.
Todd Mandel, a staff member at the fund, was the one who helped
Aydindzhyan get the accounting job he now has.
The network of the staff was one of the most helpful aspects,
according to Mandel.
The program has helped Aydindzhyan feel like part of another
family with the support and advice he received.
"I could count on them anytime. They were helpful, gave support,
academic and career advice," said Aydindzhyan.
As a result of being in the Fulfillment Fund, Aydindzhyan
definitely wants to return to the program to be a counselor and
possibly, be a sponsor.
Aydindzhyan is now attending law school.
Tahira Hoke, another participant, graduated from UCLA this year.
Hoke heard about the program from Steven Kleinberg, a teacher at
James Monroe High School in North Hills, California.
The program helped Hoke’s communication skills, leadership
skills and competitiveness when she was in school.
"The Fulfillment Fund requires that all students maintain above
a 2.0 to receive scholarship. This requirement, along with
encouragement and support, helped motivate me to keep a competitive
edge at UCLA," said Hoke.
The fund has concentrated on an important aspect that many
people take for granted in our society: caring.
For Hoke, the program has shown her in numerous ways that they
care about her as a human being.
"As far as people are concerned, I met people who have been very
influential in my life as a student, leader, and my confidence, in
their expectations of me."
The Fulfillment Fund also illuminated Hoke’s educational
path.
"Although I received financial aid and scholarships, the
Fulfillment Fund was the true light that made me realize that UCLA
was for me," commented Hoke.
Hoke added that the support provided by the Fulfillment staff
has truly touched her life.
"Although (the sponsors) provided me with money, they never
dictated my guidance. They gave their support without any
conditions," said Hoke.
For Hoke, the Fulfillment Fund was about more than money.
"It was a valuable resource of concerned citizens of Los Angeles
that became part of my life in a major way," Hoke said. "All praise
is due to God for their ability to help me and the multiple ways I
have expressed."
Studies conducted on LAUSD students have proved that the
mentoring works.
According to John Heathcliff, vice president of the fund and
Community Development, 86 per cent of the program’s students
graduate from high school, compared to 50 percent of their
classmates at LAUSD.
Mentoring has also been proven to work, says Heathcliff. Those
who are mentored are 46 percent less likely to use drugs, 33
percent less likely to be involved in fights, and are more
confident in their school work, according to a study conducted by
the program.
Fund staff claims community support as the secret to their
success.
"We are only successful with the support from the community. We
have volunteer support, donated goods, free accounting, and public
services," said Heathcliff.
The ability to help others has motivated Heathcliff to devote so
much effort to the program.
"It makes my heart as big as California. It is a great pleasure.
It is the reason why I wake up and go to work and feel great," said
Heathcliff.
The students’ responses and the successes they have experienced
demonstrate the results of this dedication.
"The staff work day and night to make youth dreams come true,"
said Hoke.