Grand Prix Foundation Announces Scholarship Winners

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 20, 2012) – Winners of the Robert E. Leslie Scholarship Program given annually by the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach were announced by the charitable organization on Friday.

Open to seniors at Long Beach’s six high schools, the Robert E. Leslie Scholarship Program awards seven $1,500 scholarships each year.

“There were more applications for the seven awards this year than ever before,” said Scholarship Committee Chair and Foundation Board Member Valerie deMartino. “As usual, the applicants were all outstanding students and every one of them is worthy of recognition.”

All of the Long Beach area high schools were represented in the application pool.

Checks for the unrestricted scholarship will be distributed to the students at a reception on Monday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Gladstone’s Restaurant, 330 S. Pine Ave. in Long Beach.

The winning students are:

Anthony Patrick – Cabrillo
Diane Huynh – Lakewood
Ekko Hendrix – Millikan
Safia Lee – Millikan
Danielle Tavasti - Millikan
Elias Orozco – Poly
Jennifer Pham – Poly

The Leslie scholarship program has been in place since 1997. Money for the scholarships was raised as part of the Grand Prix Foundation’s Charity Days during the 38th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The nonprofit foundation hosts the Toyota Grand Prix celebrity golf tournament on Monday and the Toyota Grand Prix Charity Ball on Friday of race week.

In the Grand Prix Foundation’s 22 years, it has raised and donated more than $2.75 million to Long Beach area charities. Its primary sponsor is Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Principal beneficiaries are Miller Children’s Hospital of Long Beach, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Long Beach Area Special Olympics, and the Robert E. Leslie Scholarship Program. The all-volunteer organization donates more than 95% of the money it raises back to other local area charities.

For more information about the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach, go to http://www.gplb.com/grand-prix-foundation/