Contact: Muriel Banares or
Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
(818) 677-2130
mbanares@exec.csun.edu

Commonwealth Fund Donates Grant to CSUN
in Honor of Blenda J. Wilson

The donation, received on March 12, will be directed to a presidential scholarship endowment fund to underwrite the Northridge Presidential Scholars Program created by Wilson two years ago to provide students full academic scholarships.

The Northridge Presidential Scholars Program offers incoming freshmen the opportunity to obtain full academic scholarships that cover state university fees, lab fees, partial textbook allowance and free on-campus parking. The Presidential Scholars Program also includes a mentorship program that pairs the students with a faculty member or an administrator.

Wilson recently announced her resignation as CSUN's president to become the first president and CEO of the Nellie Mae Foundation. The New England-based organization works to promote quality education in that region, particularly for under-served groups.

The Commonwealth Fund is a philanthropic foundation established in 1918 to help Americans live healthy and productive lives and assist specific groups with serious and neglected problems. The Commonwealth Fund's national programs focus on improving health care services, bettering the health of minority Americans, advancing the well being of elderly people and developing the capacities of children and young people.