SALINAS VALLEY — Local McDonald’s owner/operator Raymond Costa has awarded college scholarships to 20 employees and their children of McDonald’s restaurants in the Salinas Valley.
This year’s recipients received between $1,000 and $3,000 in scholarship money to help pay for tuition or cost of attendance at various schools, including California State University Monterey Bay, Hartnell College, Sacramento State University and San Jose State University.
The Raymond H. Costa Family Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Monterey County was established to provide scholarships to McDonald’s employees and their immediate families to help them pursue higher education. Since 2017, more than $283,000 in scholarships have been awarded to employees, many of whom are first-generation college students.
“Many of these students are first in their families to attend college and have overcome many obstacles,” Costa said. “These scholarships are available to give every type of student the opportunity to pursue higher education to better themselves and their families. It is an honor to give back to our hardworking employees.”
Costa has been a McDonald’s owner/operator for 26 years and owns eight restaurants throughout Salinas and the Salinas Valley. He started off awarding his employees with toys and has since then moved on to award money for college.
Costa was inspired to give back from his own personal experience when he and his family were given Christmas gifts collected from a toy drive after his father died.
The Raymond H. Costa Family Scholarship Fund strives to promote learning and enhance the quality of life for McDonald’s crew members and their families. The award provides funding to assist eligible students who wish to pursue an undergraduate/post-graduate college education, attend a certificate course or seek trade skill development.
