Pari Livermore began her journey in philanthropy by living out one of her biggest dreams: matchmaking. While philanthropy and matchmaking may seem to be an unusual combination, she had the idea to create a series of fundraisers starting in 1986 called the “Red and White Ball.” These parties were hosted for non-profit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, allowing 150 bachelors to meet and get to know each other through the night. Over the years, these matchmaking events have resulted in over 300 marriages while also earning thousands of dollars for Livermore’s beneficiaries, including her favorite charity in Middletown, California.
Minnie Cannon Elementary School is one of our main beneficiaries. Using the proceeds that we have garnered from the success of Livermore’s matchmaking events, we have created several scholarship programs to help the children of Minnie Cannon Elementary School obtain a bright future.
Serving the Youth by Supporting Their Dreams
Our scholarship program was first established in 2011. Since then, we have granted a total of 37 scholarships to students from Minnie Cannon Elementary School, and by the end of 2022, we aim to reach our goal of 40 scholarships provided in total.
We encourage these children to pursue their interests and make their dreams come true. We want them to have an equal chance of achieving their goals. Thus, we have decided to offer scholarships in nine unique categories:
- Leadership
- Music
- 4H
- Girls’ Athletics
- Science
- Community Service
- College Housing
- Gardening
- Rodeo
These scholarships give students a sense of assurance that allows them to begin planning out their goals, even at a young age. The financial support can benefit them in many ways, including their personal needs, academic materials, or other resources that they may need in college. Aside from our scholarships, we have provided other materials and facilities to promote both learning and enjoyment for the students as they pursue their education. Through the years, we have provided the school with band instruments for talented young musicians, sports equipment to support youth athletics, a school playground for recreational use, and many other things. We are also implementing study programs to assist high school students in studying for their SAT and PSAT.
Extending Help Towards the Town and Community
While we have exerted the best of our efforts into serving students, we also aim to contribute to the community. We regularly host special events with the children of Minnie Cannon Elementary School, which enables them to interact with their peers and learn the importance of generosity and teamwork.
We take pride in these events and the joy they have provided to the citizens of Middletown and beyond. Some of our most successful events include a “Holiday Sings” event to celebrate Christmas, Valentine’s Day events in which our students spent the day with the town’s seniors, and our Daffodil Days project wherein students and their families have contributed to the beautification of Middletown by planting over 33,000 daffodils since 2011.
We are immensely proud of the achievements that these students have made through our scholarship. To learn more about the Berkley Minnie Cannon Scholarship, our projects, and our events, browse through our website or contact us today!