Celebrating 20 Years of Impact

Thriving in the City of Angels

Empowering Students of Color from the Start

We’re proud to say that Thrive Scholars started 20 years ago in the neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. We knew then, as we do today, that the only thing keeping Black, Latinx, and other underrepresented students in L.A. from achieving career success is access to real opportunity.

With our support, our L.A. Scholars aren’t just graduating from college, they are thriving at top ranked schools — and joining our country’s most innovative companies with the skills and experience to be the professional, business, and civic leaders our region needs.

Top 7 Colleges for Los Angeles Scholars and Alums

What Alumni Say

Sreymich, LA Scholar Alum

Pomona College Class of 2020, Bernstein Private Wealth Management

Thrive Scholars took a chance on me — a first-gen, low-income Scholar with no network. They have given me the opportunities and resources to be academically and professionally prepared. But most importantly, Thrive Scholars has given me a support system and the confidence to compete alongside the best in the world.

What Los Angeles Corporate Partners Say

Davidson Pattiz

COO, Zenith Insurance Company

Over the last 10 years, Zenith Insurance Company has sponsored, mentored and provided internships for dozens of Thrive Scholars, a number of whom now are part of our company family as full-time Zenith employees. Thrive Scholars’ intense focus on one-to-one coaching and guidance makes all the difference in helping promising young men and women of color get to where they deserve to be notwithstanding any economic or societal barriers thrown in their way. We are blessed to be part of what Thrive has done, is doing, and will do in the future. It truly is a remarkable organization, whose mission is uniquely suited for our times.

Los Angeles Board of Directors

Meet the committed leadership guiding our efforts to triple the number of students we serve in Los Angeles and nationwide.

  • Robert Brook

    Distinguished Chair in Health Care Services at the RAND Corporation

  • Dr. John Diaz

    Plastic Surgeon

  • Lauro Gonzalez

    CEO, SATMEX, Retired

  • Nancy Hinojos

    Deployment Strategist - Palantir Technologies

  • Stanley Iezman

    CEO, American Realty Advisors

  • Ramsey Jay, Jr

    Public Speaker

  • Larrin Marrisett

    Chief Marketing Officer, Patriot Gold Group

  • Masai Minters

    Director, Academic Advancement Program at UCLA

  • Greg Nathan

    Portfolio Manager, FPA U.S. Core Equity Inc

  • Davidson Pattiz

    COO, Zenith Insurance

  • Michael Quick

    Provost Emeritus and Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California - Dornslife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences

  • Tate Rider

    Vice President, DaVita Division

  • Maria C. Rodriguez

    Partner, McDermott Will & Emery

  • Timothy M. Teagle

    Global Client Services Partner, Business Development Leader Ernst & Young, LLP

  • Godwin Tsado

    Data Science Analyst, Capital Group

  • Kari Van Gundy

    Chief Executive Officer, Zenith Insurance

  • Jeff Weiss

    Founder & Managing Director, CCI

  • David Wirtschafter

    Board Member, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment

  • Arlene Withers

    Certified Professional Coach

Los Angeles Sponsors

Our Los Angeles program is made possible with the generous support from key corporations and foundations invested in making a difference in the Los Angeles Area.

*These companies also participate in our Corporate Sponsorship Program.

Explore Other Regions

Interested in learning more about our programming in Los Angeles?

Contact our Los Angeles Executive Director

Thomas Chang