The Don Diego Fund:
Scholarships for College

The Don Diego Fund provides financial support for deserving San Diego County college-bound students. The fund was formed in 1986 as a lasting tribute to Tom Hernandez, who, in the role of Don Diego, was the legendary host of the San Diego County Fair from 1947 until his death in 1984.

In his memory, the Don Diego Fund was created to provide college scholarships for outstanding San Diego County high school students who have participated in the annual San Diego County Fair or other events associated with the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 1986, The Don Diego Fund has distributed $513,000 in scholarships and grants and has helped 121 students pursue a college degree.

Read the Fall 2009 Don Diego Fund newsletter [PDF format]
Read the Spring 2009 Don Diego Fund newsletter [PDF format]

In 2009, the Don Diego Fund awarded $21,000 in scholarships and grants. The top awards were four $5,000 scholarships for high school seniors: one for a 4-H student, one for a FFA (Future Farmers of America) student, one for a student who has worked at the Fair or Fairgrounds, and one for a student exhibitor at the Fair, Fairgrounds or Horsepark. One student also received a $1,000 grant. The Don Diego Fund is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

The application period for the scholarships runs from the first of the year to late March or early April. Applications for 2011 will be available sometime in December.

Direct questions to dondiegofund@sdfair.com

Members of the Don Diego Fund Board of Directors help make the scholarships possible. Many thanks to the members of the Don Diego Fund Board of Directors:

Don Diego Fund Board of Directors

Allan Royster, Chairman
Timothy J. Fennell, President/CEO
Paul Ecke III, Vice President
Robert Spanjian, Secretary/CFO

Michael Alpert
Lisa Barkett
Ruben Barrales
Fred Borrelli
Kelly Burt
Adam Day
Ann Davies
Barbara Dunphy
Susan Farrior
Kim Fletcher
John G. (Jack) Ford
Roxana Foxx
Vivian Hardage
Joseph W. (Joe) Harper
Jon Liss
James F. Mulvaney
Barry Nussbaum
Russ Penniman
Fred Schenk
Bob L. Vice
Chana Mannen, Executive Director, 858-792-4210 or cmannen@sdfair.com