The academic futures of some deserving students are looking a little brighter after two Bay Area women donated $2,000 to a scholarship award program operated by the Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin.
Marcy Orosco and Marlynn Murphy donated the money. Since 2009, they have annually contributed to the vets’ scholarship fund.
This year, Orosco presented their check to an appreciative group of vets.
The Veteran’s group award annual scholarships to children of military families. Since their first award of $1,000 in 1990, they have provided nearly $45,000 to 35 students. Their donations totaled nearly $90,000 to a variety of charitable causes.
Orosco is director of Harbor House, a program that assists veterans and their families. She said she also works with the Veterans Administration to help find housing and specialized programs for veterans in more than 10 counties.
“She has been monumental in helping vets find housing and jobs upon discharge from prison,” commented Ron Self, then chairman of the veterans’ group. He lauded her “unwavering loyalty to vets.”
Orosco said her VA connections bolstered her ability to assist veterans. “I’m the only person in the Bay Area that will house a vet in 24 hours,” she said.
Expressing sentiments of the group, one member said, “Recognizing the charity she has given us is long overdue.”
The incarcerated vets also give toys to needy children at Christmas time, provide care packages for deployed service members, recycle used soda tabs for money to support disadvantaged families of hospitalized children, and collect used stamps for use in the physical rehabilitation of injured veterans.
The Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin web site is http://vvgsq.tripod.com
