SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Getting an education these days seems to be getting more and more expensive.
But The San Diego Foundation has millions in scholarship money to award to local students pursuing a variety of secondary education options.
Students like Jawid Habib, who received money through several years of college and law school.
As the son of Afghan immigrants, Habib says his accomplishments meant a great deal, "I'll never forget the moment that I got my college acceptance letter at UCSD and I handed it to my mom and I'll never forget the tears in her eyes and I'll never forget the tears in my father's eyes when they saw that acceptance letter."
As happy as that moment was, the reality of paying for school was still a challenge, until he found the Foundation.
"It gave me peace of mind, that's one of the biggest things it gave me peace of mind because I was more focused on success rather than focused on how to afford my education," Habib said.
Danielle Valenciano is the director of community scholarships at the foundation and tells 10News that last year the non-profit gave out more than $2.6 million to nearly 900 students.
"If we're able to help offset hunger or homelessness or their books or a bus pass so they can get to school every day, we're doing our job as a community to help these students succeed," Valenciano said.
The application process for next year is already underway, and there's money for all kinds of education, including community college, career and technical schools and teaching credential programs.
Valenciano also says some of their donors are looking for so-called diamonds in the rough, "Students who may not have the best high school grades but there's something there and they have aspirations and they have a goal, these donors want to help these students."
And hopefully give them an opportunity to achieve their goals, like Habib who is now a practicing attorney.
