The 2020-21 academic year is now over and the Burton Book Fund had another successful year, helping 879 current and former foster youth attending 91 campuses purchase their textbooks.
Luis Alcaraz is one of those former foster youth. He is a second year computer science major at Irvine Valley College, whose goal is to work as a software engineer. When the pandemic hit, Luis lost his job and wasn’t working, putting his dreams to achieve a higher education at risk.
According to Luis, the Burton Book Fund alleviated the stress of having to spend hundreds of dollars in textbooks out of pocket. He appreciates being able to buy the books he needs and being able to keep them to review material. This has especially helped him with STEM courses.
“Being a student isn’t easy and having to pay for expensive textbooks when you don’t even have more than a minimum wage paying job can really be a burden. I really do appreciate everything the Burton Book Fund has done to help out.”
Luis’s experience is included in the Burton Book Fund Impact Report, just released by JBAY. The report also includes information about who received assistance from the Burton Book Fund, the impact of the pandemic on foster youth across the state and perspectives from youth and campus administrators on the importance of supporting foster youth on campus.
The Burton Book Fund has made a difference in the lives of foster youth like Luis Alcaraz. With the ongoing support from funders, JBAY is already gearing up for the 2021-22 academic year.