For RAP's founders Diane Havlir and Arturo Martinez, pursuing higher education would not have been at all possible without the generosity of scholarship funds. These donors identified their drive and commitment to give back and enabled them to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. Today, RAP looks for students like them, for whom financial support and mentorship will make the key difference in them getting a degree that will propel them forward as they give back to their communities.
WHAT WE DO
RAP is a scholarship fund that was founded in 2002 to help students pursue higher education by providing funding and mentorship. Since 2004, RAP has selected a recipient annually from Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles. Every year, we review applications from graduating seniors at Roosevelt and select one recipient to join the RAP family. In 2012, RAP expanded to accept applications from university graduates from Uganda who are hoping to pursue post-graduate studies.
Our Founders
Diane Havlir grew up in Chicago, Illinois and was also a beneficiary of the generosity of family and outside benefactors who provided the scholarships she needed to complete college and medical school. Throughout her professional career as a physician, Dr. Havlir has looked for ways to give back to her community and was happy to help co-found RAP in 2002. Ten years later, she introduced the Uganda branch of the scholarship after meeting talented, aspiring physicians who had already demonstrated a commitment to service.
Arturo Martinez grew up in East Los Angeles and was a student at Roosevelt High like the students RAP provides scholarships to today. He grew up as the youngest in a family of ten and could not have made it past high school if not for the generous assistance of Romana Banuelos. Ramona Banuelos, former Secretary of the Treasury under Richard Nixon, provided a full ride scholarship to Arturo for both college and medical school. She gave this scholarship under a sole condition: Arturo had to do something to give back to his community sometime in the future. Because of the promise Dr. Martinez made years ago, he has established this scholarship in hopes that those who receive it will use their education to make a difference in their community.
“RAP provided not only financial support but emotional support and encouragement to succeed. No words can explain how thankful I am.”