Upcoming Events

Friday, May 25, 2018 – Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet at Heritage Palms CC in Indio.
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Last year over 320 award winners and their families, plus invited high school juniors and Sponsors/Partners of DCF had a wonderful evening.
$60 per person
Or Email/Call to Register
[email protected]
858-443-4812
The Dr. Carreón Foundation is dedicated to helping Mexican-American students in the Coachella Valley and Blythe, California accomplish their dreams of a higher education through scholarships and leadership opportunities. The late valley pioneer and philanthropist Reynaldo J. Carreón M.D. founded the organization in 1991. Dr. Carreón Boulevard, Dr. Carreón Park and the Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreón Jr. Academy in Indio are named in his honor.
About the Dr. Carreón Foundation
The late Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreón established the Reynaldo J. Carreón M. D. Foundation prior to his death in 1991, to enable Americans of Mexican ancestry to become the best they can through education. The Dr. Carreón Foundation Board of Directors has dedicated its efforts and resources to carry out Dr. Carreón’s vision. Dr. Carreón’s wish to help his people “be the greatest Americans possible” is being accomplished.
The mission of the Foundation is to support initiatives that will lead to increased and enhanced educational opportunities for the youth of Mexican-American heritage in our Coachella Valley community as they prepare to become leaders of our future. The Foundation focuses on the following areas: Education, Leadership, Community Involvement and Pride in Mexican-American Cultural Heritage.
Carreón Scholars have attended some 50 colleges and universities throughout the United States. The total investment by the Dr. Carreón Foundation in direct student financial support is more than $1 million and more than 400 students from the Coachella Valley have benefitted from these scholarships. The foundation has also awarded more than $300,000 in grants to local organizations.
Ricardo Loretta, Executive Director
The Reynaldo J. Carreón M.D. Foundation was founded in 1990 by the late valley philanthropist and pioneer, Dr. Carreón, to provide underprivileged students of Mexican descent a chance to pursue a higher education. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 400 students from local high schools. Recipients have attended schools including College of the Desert, the University of Southern California, UCLA, MIT and Harvard University.
Dr. Carreón was a co-founder of what is now John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio and helped found the Coachella Valley Mexican American Chamber of Commerce in 1980. Dr. Carreón Boulevard, the Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreón Junior Academy and Dr. Carreón Park, all in Indio, are named in his honor. In 1984, College of the Desert dedicated the International Fountain of Knowledge in honor of Dr. Carreón and his family for establishing the Dr. Carreón Scholarship Endowment at the College of the Desert Foundation. Dr. Carreón also established three other scholarship endowments at the University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine; Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton; and Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona.
Scholarships are awarded to students who have at least a 3.0 GPA, are involved in the community, are of Mexican ancestry, and demonstrate leadership skills and financial need. Scholarships range from $1,250 to $5,000. Students must show a commitment to bettering their communities like the organization's founder, Dr. Carreón.
All scholarship applicants must complete and submit this application for the Reynaldo J. Carreón M.D. Foundation online. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Dr. Carreón, A Story of Wonderful People
Rubi Becerril
I am a recent graduate from Cal State San Bernardino.
I have been recently hired at Safe House of the Desert as a Youth Counselor.
The scholarship award I received from the Dr. Carreon Foundation helped was very meaningful to me because it allowed me to start at College of the Desert after graduating high school. I am glad to be a Carreon Scholar because I am proud of my Mexican heritage and the Carreon Foundation reminds me of my roots.
Christopher Carbajal
My name is Christopher Carbajal-Carbajal, and I'm currently attending the University of California, San Diego, where I am concentrating in Sociology and Political Science (with a minor in Mathematics). Here, I am the Local and National Research Analyst with the Triton Lobby Corps and a mentor for the Estudiantes de Aztlàn under the UCSD Raza Resource Centro.
It is certainly not trivial that a colligate education is expensive. Hence, I am ecstatic and grateful to have received the Dr. Carreòn Foundation Scholarship because the funds granted to me not only helped me attend my first year at university for free but also relieved my amazing mother and myself from paying out of pocket. Because I was fortunate enough to have received an abundance of funds from various organizations, I was granted the opportunity not to take out any loans and not accumulate student debt. Therefore, I am able to attend my first year of college worry-free without any economic constraints.
Sandra Cardenas
Alexa N Mejia
I am currently a 4th year student at UC San Diego, I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in business. I currently work as a scheduling & event assistant at UC San Diego Sports Facilities.
I am very grateful to have received the Dr. Carreon Scholarship not only because of the financial help but because I know the foundation is a support system that understands my background and the struggles that come with being a Latina and the first in my family to go to college. This scholarship means more than the financial value, it has given me the motivation to continue even in the toughest times because I know there are people beyond my family that want to see me succeed.
Belen Meza
I am a student at UCR and I am currently working at Desert Valley Date.
I am glad I was chosen as a recipient for the Dr. Carreon Foundation Scholarship because it has helped me become one step closer to achieving my dreams and further my education. To me, being a recipient of this scholarship means my efforts during my high school years did pay off and it makes me feel proud that others believe in me.
Anselmo Montez
Graduate of University of California, Riverside, Currently Working as a Health Educator for Rite Aid Pharmacy.
The Dr.Carreon Foundation alleviated me from financial burden that comes with pursing Higher Education. Meaning to me far more than just money, but an opportunity of a lifetime.
Cynthia Navarrete
Cynthia is currently a student at UC San Diego. She is involved in the UCSD’s Global Medical Missions Alliance (GMMA) Chapter, and in the valley she is a member of the CVEP Pathways to success student leadership team.
I am very grateful for the Dr.Carreón Foundation scholarship because it has allowed me to make my studies my first priority. It means a lot to me to be a recipient because it’s an honor to be a part of Dr.Carreón’s legacy and to have a community that believes in me and my aspirations.
Monzerrat Ruiz
Tamara Eses
Cintya Beltran Sanchez
Carina Paredes
Anahi Roman
Be enrolled as a full-time student in a Coachella Valley or Blythe High school.
Have earned at least a 3.0 un-weighted grade point average for all four years of high school work completed.
Be able to demonstrate qualities of good citizenship, leadership and financial need.
Be of Mexican/Hispanic ancestry.
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Donate to the Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreón Foundation
Your donation will help the Dr. Carreón Foundation send students to college.
To date, the foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to high-achieving Coachella Valley and Blythe students going on to college and have awarded more than $300,000 in grants to local organizations.
Our funds are matched 100% by Pathways to Success.
Students attending a four-year university receive: $5,000
Students attending a community college receive: $2,500
Donations can be mailed to:
Reynaldo J. Carreón M.D. Foundation
41550 Eclectic St.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Please make checks payable to: Reynaldo J. Carreón M.D. Foundation
The Reynaldo J. Carreón Foundation is a registered 501 (c) 3.
Donations are tax deductible as allowable by law.
Contact Us
By Email: [email protected]
By Phone: 858-344-4812
Mailing Address:
Reynaldo J. Carreón M.D. Foundation
41550 Eclectic St.
Palm Desert, CA 92260

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