Celebrating 20 Years of Impact

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      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

      • Boston
      • Chicago
      • Cleveland
      • New York

      Interested in learning more about our programming in Los Angeles?

      Contact our Los Angeles Executive Director

      Thomas Chang
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