Our donors understand that behind every scholarship check is a success story waiting to be written. Each award we give carries the hope, grit, and ambition of someone ready to learn, grow, and eventually give back. That’s how we build a region where opportunity reaches every corner.
Meet Adán Chávez. Born in Southeast Los Angeles County, Adán spent most of his childhood in Moreno Valley and graduated from John W. North High School in Riverside. As the son of two working-class immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico, he always knew that higher education would be the key to opportunity.
But, like many first-generation college students, he and his parents weren’t sure how they would afford it. His journey is a powerful example of the impact these scholarships can have and how support from one’s community can come full circle.
“I remember having a very honest but hard conversation with my parents as a high school senior,” Adán shared. “They told me they couldn’t financially contribute a single dollar toward my college education.”
Determined not to let finances stand in his way, Adán applied to countless scholarships, worked full-time jobs, and took advantage of federal work-study opportunities. A pivotal moment in his journey came when he was awarded a scholarship through the Dr. Barnett Grier and Eleanor Jean Grier Scholarship (established in 2000) at IECF.
For more than 80 years, scholarships have been central to IECF’s goal of expanding access to education. It began in 1941, when our founder, Charles E. Brouse, established an endowed fund to support students at Riverside City College. Today, our scholarship program has grown into a multimillion-dollar effort. In 2024 alone, we awarded $3.5 million to help advance education in our region and beyond.
For Adan, receiving that IECF scholarship felt like more than just financial support, it felt like a vote of confidence from his own community.
“It was as if the Inland Empire itself was saying, ‘We believe in you.’ That support closed the gap between me and college and confirmed my goal to return home one day and give back.”
Adán went on to attend the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a double-degree in Political Science and Chicano/Latino Literature. It was during his time as an undergraduate that he found his voice as a student leader and organizer, which laid the foundation for a career in public policy and advocacy.
Today, Adán is pursuing a Master of Public Affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, with a focus on Domestic Policy and a certificate in Science and Technology Policy. As part of his program, he was required to complete a public interest fellowship, and it was clear to him where he wanted to go.
We’re enormously proud that this past summer, Adán returned to the Inland Empire as a Princeton Graduate Fellow at the Inland Empire Community Foundation—the very organization that had once helped make his dreams possible. “It’s truly a full circle moment,” he said.
“IECF was also one of the first organizations I partnered with when I began my career in public service, working to ensure an accurate Census 2020 count across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. To be back here now, contributing in a new way, is deeply meaningful.”
As part of his fellowship, Adán worked with our Office of Policy Engagement to draft a five-year report that looks back on the Foundation’s impact while operating under the “Vital Conditions” framework. This report will act as a tool to help advocate for sustained philanthropic investment in the region.
Looking ahead, Adán hopes to transition into a role in philanthropy, ideally working in communications, advocacy, or as a program officer overseeing grantmaking in support of racial justice, organizing, or democracy efforts. His long-term goal remains rooted in the Inland Empire, ensuring that future generations have access to the same kind of opportunities he worked hard to receive.
To students from the region who are just beginning their journey, Adán offers heartfelt advice: “Believe in the beauty of your dreams. Trust the process. Take up space—and make room for others.”
He also has a message for the donors who make scholarships like his possible: “Thank you for believing in me before I even believed in myself. Your investment changed my life as a high school graduate. And now, you’re changing it again.”
At IECF, we are honored to play a role in stories like Adán’s. If you’d like to help shape a brighter future for the Inland Empire by supporting local students, our Charitable Giving Team is ready to help. Email giving@iegives.org to learn how you can create a lasting legacy.
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