The Bumble Bee Seafood Foundation Scholarship
Challenge
In response to 2020 racial tensions in the U.S., The Bumble Bee Seafood company recognized the need to explicitly reject discrimination, racism, injustice, and violence of any kind, and more importantly, to reaffirm our values and deepen our People First Pillar with action. Our senior leadership team made a commitment to stand proudly behind all our people, and to find a way to address inequality within the communities in which we operate.
Actions
In June 2020, The Bumble Bee Seafood Company made a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in support of current movements in our broader society, and subsequently created The Bumble Bee Seafood Company Foundation Scholarship open to students who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Our intention with these scholarships is to open a path to achievement and advancement for students of color and to help students break
cycles of inequality through educational advancement and the opportunities that come from higher education. These scholarships are a way we can show love, generate economic opportunity, and support upward mobility. By funding the foundation now, the company ensured the program has a systemic, long-term impact and will provide scholarships for generations to come.
Outcomes
Bumble Bee has partnered with the San Diego Foundation to administer this exciting program. Effective February 1st, 2022, students were able to apply for $2,500 annual education scholarships funded by The Bumble Bee Seafood Company Foundation Scholarship. Scholarships are renewable for an additional year for sustained learning. Four Scholarships will be awarded by June 1st for the 2022-2023 school year to San Diego County resident students who are graduating high school seniors, students in current four-year programs, community college students, or trade/vocational school students who meet the following criteria:
- Plan to or are currently enrolled in an accredited community college, four-year university, or trade/vocational in the United States
- Identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Person of Color)
- Have a minimum unweighted GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Have a demonstrated financial need
- Preference to students who are first in their family to attend college and have shown a commitment to their community through meaningful community service
At The Bumble Bee Seafood Company we are proud of the work we do each day to support our strategic pillar of People. We know that embracing diversity and taking action to open doors to those that are systemically disadvantaged will help build stronger more inclusive communities in which we all can thrive. I am proud of the partnership we have with the San Diego Foundation and the development of the Scholarship Fund. Education is a gift that should be available to all. This program is designed to help extend that gift of education to individuals in our communities and is one of many initiatives needed to help address the issues of inequality in our community.