In late 2019, the Foundation suspended the Scholarship Program. Current students will be supported through the end of their award, but no new scholarships will be awarded.
In 1981, Mr. John Gogian was inspired to start a Foundation for charitable purposes and to offer a Scholarship Program to benefit students in the Los Angeles area.
The Foundation Board of Directors annually determined the schools to target for the scholarship program. The Foundation worked with the Compton School District and later with Lennox Mathematics, Science, and Technology Academy; Port of Los Angeles High School; and Verbum Dei High School.
To be eligible, students had to have a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), be a U.S. Citizen or legal resident, have financial need, and plan to attend a community college, a four-year university, or an accredited trade school.
In 2004 the Foundation revamped the Scholarship Program, electing to develop a community-based Scholarship Selection Committee. The Committee annually reviewed the Scholarship Applications and selected the recipients.
Each recipient received funds to be used over four years. Funds were disbursed to the Financial Aid office in the name of the student, to be used for tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Continuing scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum GPA and provide official school transcripts and an essay to the Foundation annually.
Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded 227 scholarships totaling just over $1.9 million.