Fresno State TRIO Upward Bound collects 374 toys for Valley children

On Saturday, December 7th, Fresno State TRIO Upward Bound students and staff members gathered on campus to wrap nearly 400 toys collected as part of the program’s second annual holiday toy drive. The toys were donated as holiday gifts to all students at La Vina Elementary School with the support of the Diaz Family Foundation and to children up to 18 years old through Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency and the Marjaree Mason Center. 

The program’s toy drive started in 2023 with 238 toys and supported the Diaz Family Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County. The Diaz Family Foundation serves over 20 children with special needs annually, providing physical therapy at the Centro Para Niños Especiales in San Luis de Paz, Guanajuato, Mexico. With the support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County (headquarters office), fourteen Boys & Girls Clubs across the Central Valley were also supported last year.

This year, Upward Bound’s holiday toy drive received support from Fresno State students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members, including advocates of Upward Bound TRIO programs from Los Angeles, CA, Camden, NJ and Lowell, MA. Additionally, Upward Bound received significant support from the Consulado de México in Fresno, which donated 30 Lego sets, and the Fresno State Police Department, which donated 180 toys, including six bicycles.

“I am grateful to have a team and leadership that stand by my side to support our ideas and help them come to fruition,” said Estevan Parra Guerrero, director of Fresno State Upward Bound Programs. “The toy drive requires a lot of critical thinking, labor, and diligence in planning and organizing. However, this event was successful and memorable because of the support we received from everyone who donated, shared our social media posts and came to speak to our Upward Bound students.”

“Seeing our students come together to wrap toys and then donate them to three organizations in Madera and Fresno makes everything worth it, and I am excited to plan for next year.”

Following their gift-wrapping session, students heard from guest speakers, including Raul and Ana Maria Diaz (founders of the Diaz Family Foundation), Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval (university president), Martina Granados (senior director of Fresno State Outreach and Special Programs), Anthony Martinez (chief of police at Fresno State), Nuria P. Zúñiga Alaniz (honorable cónsul from the Consulado de México en Fresno) and Lorena Guitierrez with Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency. 

All of the guest speakers noted the impact the students are making through the toy drive and how they can continue to uplift their community after obtaining a college degree. 

Chief Martinez said to the students, “You are helping build the valley. [Go to college and] lay the foundation for a future you will always enjoy, and then you can pay it forward.”

Through Fresno State Upward Bound, students from Edison, Madera, Madera South, Fresno, McLane, and Roosevelt high schools receive tutoring and mentorship. They participate in preparatory activities to help them overcome adversity and set themselves up for high school and beyond. They learn about academic achievement, leadership skills, career opportunities, and personal development. This collaborative effort involves the school, students’ parents, and Upward Bound staff.

Additionally, Upward Bound offers a six-week summer residential program at Fresno State, 6-8 college visits within California yearly, and a senior recognition ceremony to celebrate and honor senior-year students and their families for their commitment to the program.

Upward Bound programs primarily serve students from low-income families or those who would be first-generation college students, aiming to recruit freshmen to guide them throughout their high school journey. 

To learn more about Upward Bound and student eligibility requirements, visit https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/upwardbound/index.html. 

by MARISA MATA

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