McDonald’s helps make college dreams possible

The owner of multiple McDonald’s franchises here on the Central Coast awarded more than $56,000 to 13 Salinas Valley McDonald’s employees through the community foundation for Monterey County.

“We are about changing people’s lives by giving them an opportunity. If I can help with tuition to help an employee further their goals, then that’s what we need to do,” said business owner, Raymond Costa.

Many of the recipients are the first in their family to attend college.

Students receiving scholarships will be attending the following schools: Central Coast College, CSU Monterey Bay, University of California Los Angeles, CSU Fresno, CSU Sacramento, Hartnell Community College and Monterey Peninsula College. The students are from the Salinas Valley: nine are from Soledad, two from Greenfield and two from King City. In addition to the Costa scholarships, many of these students have also benefitted from McDonald’s tuition assistance program.