Culver City Observer -

Bandai Foundation Funds 10 New Scholarships for Local Seniors

The Culver City Community Scholarship Fund will give 20 new scholarships in 2013, thanks to a $5,000 grant from The Bandai Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Bandai, the Japanese toy and video game company, as a way to give back to the community that has made its products successful in the United States.

The Culver City Community Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, seeks out and maintains funds to be given as scholarships to graduating seniors from Culver City HIgh and Culver Park High .

The award was presented recently at the company headquarters in Cypress, and Scholarship Fund Board members Margaret Fujisawa, Michael Laase, Karen Pyenson and Sara Fields were on hand to accept.

Although the Scholarship Fund most recently gave out 127 scholarships totaling over $113,000, there is always a great need and many deserving students are not selected, according to Co-President Margaret Fujisawa, who said, "the Bandai Foundation's mission is to transform the lives of children and youth, and being able to attend college definitely supports this mission.

“In the Bandai application, we wrote that we hope to increase the number of scholarships granted to students from low-income families. With this grant, we will award 10 Bandai Foundation Scholarships of $500 each, given to students with greatest financial need."

Students will apply through the regular Scholarship Fund application process, beginning January 29, 2013.

Individuals or businesses wishing to donate to the fund may send checks made out to Culver City Community Scholarship Fund, Culver City High School, 4401 Elenda St., Culver City, CA 90230, attention Margaret Fujisawa, College Career Center, or make a secure donation at the Fund's website, http://www.cccommunityscholarships.org. Those who wish to set up a new named scholarship for 2013, are asked to contact Margaret at (310) 842-4200, extension 3558.

Pictured above are Culver City Community Scholarship Fund Board members Michael Laase, Karen Pyenson, Sara Fields and Margaret Fujisawa at Banda Corporation headquarters to accept $5,000 grant for scholarships.