The scholarship honors Manuel S. Pina on his 100th birthday, September 4, 2022, to support students of Cape Verdean descent from Wareham High School, Old Rochester Regional High School, and New Bedford High School.
New Bedford, MA — The SouthCoast Community Foundation, one of the largest aggregators of scholarships in the Southeastern Massachusetts region, announced today that the Manuel S. Pina Scholarship Fund has been established by his son, Manny Pina, Jr., in honor of what would have been his father’s 100th birthday on September 4, 2022. The Manuel S. Pina Scholarship Fund will provide qualified high school graduates of Cape Verdean descent from Wareham High School, Old Rochester Regional High School, and New Bedford High School with financial assistance to attend college. Starting in 2023, awards of $10,000 will be made during the Community Foundation scholarship season and will support recipients over four years.
To raise money for the fund, a buffet dinner is planned at White’s of Westport on September 16, 2022, from 6 – 11 pm featuring music by the legendary Bluenotes. Tickets can be purchased by calling Manny Pina (508-509-9345), Lorraine Telo (508-776-5475), or Celia’s Boutique (508-525-9490).
“Manny Pina’s work to uplift students of Cape Verdean descent in our region is an exemplary model of what it means to give back,” stated Leonard M. Lee, President and CEO, for the SouthCoast Community Foundation.”
“We are humbled he chose the Community Foundation to help him with his philanthropic goals in support of the educational dreams of Cape Verdean students.”
Manny ia, Jr. commented, “All the way back to grandfather, Serifim, the Pina family has believed that education leads to a better life. Unfortunately, for my father, scholarships were not available even though he was valedictorian of his class. This Fund is my way of helping to ensure that never happens to another Cape Verdean student.”
About Manuel Pina, Sr.: Manuel Pina was the eldest child of Serifim and Virginia Pina, who immigrated from Cape Verde Islands to the early 1900s. Manuel was driven to success, and this was demonstrated by graduating valedictorian from his Wareham High School class in 1940. Financial challenges prevented Manuel from finishing college and he joined the Army. While serving, Manuel obtained his degree at the University of Alaska in 1961 and became the first Cape Verdean to reach the rank of Colonel.
About the SouthCoast Community Foundation: The SouthCoast Community Foundation is a nonprofit serving the communities of Southeastern Massachusetts through philanthropy. The Community Foundation mission is to mobilize philanthropy by matching donors and resources with community needs for the benefit of our region. Since 1995, the organization has distributed over $50 million from more than 200 funds to humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations in the region. For more information, visit www.southcoastcf.org.