Donor Scholarships

Donor Scholarships are funded by annual donations to our scholarship fund or through our Scholarship Endowment and are awarded to CGA member company employees and employees’ sons and daughters.

Anheuser-Busch Graduate Scholarship

$2,500 Scholarship

Awarded to a graduate student attending a 4-year public institution.

Bernie & Ellyn Gelson Scholarship

$2,000 Scholarship

Awarded to an undergraduate student from Gelson’s Markets.

C&S Wholesale Grocers

$2,500 Scholarship

Awarded to a C&S Wholesale Grocers customer.

Certified Federal Credit Union Scholarship

$2,000 Scholarship

Awarded to a CGA retail member company employee, or dependent, pursuing a degree in Accounting and/or Finance.

Hee-Sook Nelson Scholarship

$3,000 Scholarship

Donated by Retail Marketing Services, Inc. in honor of Hee-Sook Nelson’s service as CGA Board Chair for 2021.

Illuminators Educational Foundation

Six $2,000 Scholarships

Three awards are dedicated to an applicant with a relationship to a retail company; three awards are dedicated to an applicant with a relationship to a supply or wholesale company. Limited to undergraduate students.

Instacart Scholarship

$2,000 Scholarship

Awarded to an employee or dependent from a CGA retail member company.

Jack H. Brown Future Leaders

$1,000 Scholarship

Donated by Stater Bros. Markets

This scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student.

Kimberly Clark 'Making Lives Better'

Two $2,500 Scholarships

These scholarships will be awarded to a full-time undergraduate student pursing either a business or communications major.

Moss Adams

$1,500 Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to a CGA retail member company employee or dependent pursing either an accounting or finance degree.

Thomas P. Raley

$1,000 Scholarship

Donated by Raley’s

This scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student.

Zenith Insurance Company

$2,500 Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student.

"The California Grocers Association Educational Foundation has been an active participant in my educational journey. From Junior College to Graduate School, the CGAEF has been there every semester to assist me with tuition reimbursement. Although I took a slight turn from retail management to supply chain management, the CGAEF was still there for my family. My family and I are very grateful to CGAEF and the assistance the foundation has provided."

Scott Moye Costco Wholesale

“The California Grocers Association Educational Foundation played an immense role in helping me achieve my WAFC Retail Management Certificate. Knowing that CGAEF would reimburse me for the qualifying classes was a huge factor in motivating me to attend. The knowledge that I obtained from each of the classes has been invaluable and has provided me with many more skills to be successful at my job. I appreciate the opportunity CGAEF has provided me and others in pursuing our educational goals!”

Kim Gothier Stater Bros. Markets

“The Tuition Reimbursement Program has helped me financially during these tough times in our economy. If it was not for them reimbursing me, I probably would not be able to take these classes. I am very thankful for the Tuition Reimbursement Program.”

Thomas Wright Albertsons

“I am so passionate about education and I love school. Education can be expensive! The Foundation reimbursement program affords me the opportunity to take the classes I need in my current field, creating greater opportunities and options. I am an advocate for education that is why I constantly promote the CGAEF Program to my peers within our organization. Thank you for all you have done to help me achieve my goals.”

Sandy Martinez Food 4 Less