A scholarship is more than financial assistance; it’s an investment in a student’s future and in the strength of our community. Creating a scholarship fund is one of the most meaningful ways to help students pursue higher education while honoring your values or the legacy of a loved one.
Whether your passion is supporting students with financial need, encouraging community service or advancing a particular field of study, you can design a scholarship that reflects your philanthropic goals. The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) stewards more than 100 scholarship funds created by generous individuals, families and businesses, awarding more than $2 million annually to over 550 local students.
When more students have access to education, everyone benefits. Scholarship funds open doors for individuals, strengthen our workforce and create a more vibrant Monterey County now and in the future. The team manages all the details, from developing criteria and promoting opportunities to reviewing applications, administering awards and ensuring legal compliance. Donors may participate in the selection process while the Community Foundation provides the expertise that makes scholarship giving simple and effective.
Sisters Julie Almquist and JoAnn Holbrook recognize the transformative power of scholarships. Born and raised in Carmel, they grew up believing that giving back was simply part of life. Their parents, Ted and Marie Fehring, modeled a deep commitment to family and community. “The example our parents set was that you give back to your community,” Julie says. “You do whatever you can and help where it’s needed.”
(l to r) Sisters JoAnn Holbrook and Julie Almquist give back through local scholarships. (Submitted photo)
Today, they continue their family’s legacy through philanthropy. In 2025, Julie established the Ted Fehring Family/Carmel Host Lions Club Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation. The scholarship, originally created at Carmel High School and administered by her late father, now benefits Carmel High students with a commitment to community service.
Julie and JoAnn carry on the family tradition of giving by contributing to the Ted Fehring Family/Carmel Host Lions Club Fund of the CFMC, founded by Ted Fehring in the 1990s. The Fund has granted more than $60,000 to nonprofits including Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula, Alliance on Aging, Legal Services for Seniors, and the Food Bank for Monterey County.
Julie also supports causes that matter most to her through IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions in partnership with the CFMC, making grants to education, workforce development and women’s health. JoAnn contributes annually through Monterey County Gives! and volunteers for the Big Sur International Marathon and Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula.
For both sisters, philanthropy is about carrying forward the values they inherited and passing them to the next generation. Says Julie, “We hope that it will continue. That our kids carry on with a grateful mindset and think about how they can pay it forward.”
About giving back she adds, “I would invite people to consider the generosity they’ve experienced when someone made a difference to them. Whatever they can give can literally change a person’s life or create a new path. To be part of that is a great gift.”
To learn more, visit cfmco.org/Scholarships.
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