Amazon SMILE 2018

We have a new collaboration!

As of Sunday, February 18, 2018 the Stephanie Marie Burgos Scholarship Inc. has been officially listed as a charity on Amazon Smile.  This means anyone can select our organization and .5% of their purchases in the future with Amazon will be given to S.M.B.S. Inc.

If you interested in supporting us just follow the link below and select us as your charity today:

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-2965950

Thank you for your support!

2018 SMBS Scholar Application

Thanks to the help from Queen of the Rosary Catholic Academy and their confirmation candidates, we were able to send out over 400 applications mid-January.  Applications were sent to all public high schools in the five boroughs.  Please ask your college advisor or counselor for a copy.  You can also submit a request for a copy to SMBS2010@aol.com.  Remember post mark deadline is April 10th 2018.

Now, the search for our 11th scholar has begun!

Thank you again to Queen of the Rosary for generously giving us a location, time and man power to complete this vital component of our organization.

Best of luck to all of our applicants.

Thank you to the Companies & Organizations Supporters

Thank you to these great organizations & companies for a GREAT 2017! 

See you in 2018! 

End of the Year Fundraisers 2017

N.Y.C.F.C. Soccer Games
On October 22, 2017 N.Y.C.F.C. played at Shea Stadium.  Thank you to our supporters we raised $94 with a ten supporter turnout.

On November 5, 2017, we returned to Yankee Stadium raising $90 with a 30 supporter turn out.  Our supporters were given a tour of the field and given the best seats in the house.

         Thank you again to all our soccer & S.M.B.S. Inc. fans for joining us 

for all our soccer games this year! :) 

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Annual Bowling Event
Our annual bowling event at AMF, on 34th Street, Woodside Queens, was held on Saturday, November 18, 2017.  Along with tons of fun and a wonderful turn out we raised $130.89 in sales, $200 for our holiday basket raffle and $163 in donations, total of $493.89 for the event.

Thanks again to everyone who supported this event!

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JETS Football Game
Our very first football game fundraiser was held on Sunday, Dec. 3 at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey as we rooted for our home team, the JETS.   It was an exciting game and as always surrounded by great company.   On this event we sold 35 out of 40 tickets and were able to raise $396.  We did it all, including tailgating to chanting for the home team.

As always, thank you to our sports games supporters!

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY RAFFLE
Our Executive Director, Diana Diaz Torres, decided to go LIVE on Facebook for the first time to draw the three lucky winners on Friday, December 16, 2107.  It was described as "fun to watch" as noted by one of our nine online witnesses.  With four present (Diana Diaz-Torres, Alexandria Agrinsoni, David Torres and Nicolas Torres) at the drawing. The drawing was a success raising $1,123 plus a $100 donation.  This is always our highest fundraising event of the year and greatly appreciate the support of our board members, their families and friends for the support.  A special thanks to our generous donors who provided these amazing prizes to raffle off.

                                                 Congratulations to all our winners!!!

**Please LIKE & follow our Facebook page.  You will find more pictures 

and updates on upcoming events!!!!**

https://www.facebook.com/The-Stephanie-Marie-Burgos-Scholarship-Inc-340889992613806/

2017 Annual Board Meeting

Annual Board Meeting 2017

On Thursday, September 21, 2017, our wonderful board members united for our annual board meeting at Union Pizza Works in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn, New York.   In attendance included returning board members: Diana Diaz Torres (Executive Director), Alexandria Agrinsoni (Treasurer), Kenny Lozano (Sports Event Director), Jeanette Aquino (Secretary), Charmaine Mayers, Fanny Mera, Jessica Thomas, Areta Gjicali (Scholar Alum 2010), Alex Martin (Scholar Alum 2012) and Sue Roye.  Evelyn Mosquea was unable to attend but granted her proxy to Diana.   Christine Rivas (2008) and Richard Bohan (2009), both former Scholars themselves were not present but were missed.

During this meeting, our board discussed vital items that needed to be decided for the future of our organization's fundraising efforts and distribution of funds to our current and future scholars.

Serving as a board member is a rewarding but time consuming volunteer opportunity.  It is a wonderful experience to be able to share ideas and provide assistance in developing and facilitating activities that not only raise funds for the organization but spread awareness of our efforts and mission.  We service underprivileged college students the emotional and financial assistance to fulfill their undergraduate goals for their four years of college.  The process of selecting, following and creating programs to engage our scholars are truly hard work and a labor of love.

Thank you to all those current board members, who continue to serve in this capacity.  Your work does not go unnoticed. 

If you interested in joining this amazing team of dedicated and caring group of people please send your resume with a letter of intent to SMBS2010@aol.com.

2017 Scholar Updates

Lewinski Lopez (2017) - First Year Scholarship Recipient      

My first week living at St. Lawrence University has been exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. Professors wasted no time to give assignments and a long list of future expectations but each of them were extremely welcoming. They each encouraged questions and for you to come visit them during office hours which was nice but if there is one thing I didn’t expect from college was how relatively easy it would be to ask for help not just from the professors but from the students as well. The assignments thus far have been easy thanks to the support I’ve received from the people around me. I have spent more money than anticipated on textbooks for most of my classes and still need to spend more money on books later in the semester so I am grateful to be a recipient of  the Stephanie Marie Burgos Scholarship will allow me to afford the books and not be behind in my class work.

Jennifer Van (2016) - Second Year Scholarship Recipient

Dear Stephanie Marie Burgos Scholarship Board,

This past academic year, I have matured exponentially. My first two semesters in college were filled with many enlightening experiences even though heavy courses filled up my schedule. Organic Chemistry and Biology proved to be more difficult than what I was used to. I spent countless hours in the library staying up until the early morning hours, even pulling all-nighters for finals week. A few important things I’ve learned from these courses are time management, dedication and support. I’ve realized that making friends and creating a network are crucial to success. Not only do they support me in times of stress, but they also serve as advocates for scholarship and education. I can say the same about SMBS members who constantly check up on me and make sure I am excelling in both my academic and social life. Having said that, I am ready to embrace my second year at Stony Brook University. 

Over the summer, I worked at JFK Airport as an airport greeter for incoming international students. I had the opportunity to converse with people in my age range from all over the world. I met someone from Morocco for the first time and he told me how different the school system was over there. I would try to explain, but it was a bit confusing. I made friends from Italy who have a great fashion sense and study the same subjects I do at their own university. Overall, it was a great experience and I have a greater appreciation for culture and language. I hope to work there again next summer or maybe even during the school year if I have the time. 

Though my interests lay in the health sciences, I still yearn to engage in the social sciences. Being around such a diverse group of students has furnished my decision to pick up a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. I thought I wouldn’t have time to add courses that didn’t pertain to my major, but I think it’s important to have a well-rounded education and I eagerly want to take upper division courses like Feminine Spirituality. This exploration can only bring exciting things into my career, so I am confident that my decisions will be rewarding in the future. I want to give a huge thank you to SMBS’s support and efforts. I wouldn’t be able to consider opportunities like these without them.

Sincerely, 

Jennifer Van

Shakira Delacruz (2015) - Third Year Recipient

Shakira had taken a semester break from school due to some familial issues and distractions.  She transferred this past academic year from Albany to Lehman College to finish her undergraduate studies and is eager to continuing her education.  Here is her update written in the summer 2017:

            Hi my name is Shakira De La Cruz and I was the eighth winner to The Stephanie Marie Burgos Scholarship. I am writing this letter in order to update you on my college experience.  I can’t wait to go back to Lehman College. I miss school and I miss getting the grades that I used to get my first semester in College while I was upstate. I am planning to apply for my major which is social work this junior year and hopefully receive financial aid.  I am no longer eligible for funding from FASFA and this is to update you with this news because I am in need of the funding from my scholarships more than ever. 

                                                                                                            Thank You,

                                                                                                       Shakira De La Cruz

NYC Subway Series Fundraising Game 2017

Yankees Vs. Mets meets S.M.B.S. Inc. 

We were able to quickly organize and assemble a group of 28 S.M.B.S. Inc. supporters at Yankee Stadium for a baseball fundraiser on Tuesday, August 15th, night.  It was not only a fundraiser but a peer/mentoring event led by our board member, Alexandria Agrinsoni, where scholars had the opportunity to meet each other and meet our supporters. 

It was an exciting and engaging game.  Everyone in attendance had an amazing time chanting for both the Yankees and the Mets.  Our group consisted of fans from both teams but united in laughter and good sportmenship supporting not only their teams but our cause.  

We raised $175 from tickets sales and donations. 

Thank you again to our amazing board; Kenny Lozano, Alexandria Agrinsoni, Fanny Mera and Diana Diaz Torres for this magnificent night of unity and fun.  Most importantly thank you to our supporters.  

Jennifer Van (Scholar #9, 2016) & Shakira DeLaCruz (Scholar #8, 2015)

Former board member, James Carroll, and current Board member, Fanny Mera

Yankee and Mets fans in the mix :) 

Board members (Left to right)
 Diana Diaz Torres, Alexandria Agrinsoni, Kenny Lozano & Fanny Mera
photo bombed by Nicolas Torres 

To our greatest supporters, the Ferro, Mancini, Napolitano & Padilla families.
Thank you for your support!