Our Mission

Since 1979, MAIA has worked to improve the quality of life for all people of the Pajaro Valley. Historically we have provided assistance in education and health by supporting innovative projects that benefit families who work the land. Most recently our focus has been on counseling and creating opportunities for underrepresented low income students to attend college.
Michael Sullivan Scholarship

How to Apply

To apply for a scholarship, eligible students should contact their guidance counselor or the scholarship committee at their high school.

Eligiblity Criteria

  • Eligible students must have overcome one or more significant barriers to school success: poverty, migration, immigration, ethnic or racial minority, or learning English as a second language.
  • Applicants are required to submit a FAFSA application for the coming academic year.

The Foundation

Mr. Sullivan bequeathed funds to the MAIA Foundation. His bequest helps to pay for activities that promote college attendance and helps to support modest scholarships. Each scholarship is $1,000 a year renewable for four years for a total value of $4,000.

About Michael Sullivan

Mr. Sullivan began as the Freshman Class counselor at Watsonville High School in 1965. He wanted to make a real difference in the lives of his students. The question was how? Mr. Sullivan could not significantly help each of his 400 to 600 students.

He decided to focus on poor and minority students who did not aspire to college or did not know how to get into college. Many were not even identified as college material, but they all had records of high academic achievement.

Mr. Sullivan’s answer was to qualify them for admission to prestigious colleges and universities where they would have the greatest chance to break through the barriers of poverty, inequality and class.

Prestigious schools produce graduates with the mindset, skills and habits of successful people. The network of friends and college mentors that students develop at such schools later become key to employment.

During his years as a counselor, Mr. Sullivan filled gaps in financial aid packages so that students did not have to work. Mr. Sullivan believed students should be focused on learning and free to engage in campus- related social activities.