1. Healthcare

Avenal Chimes • Thursday, February 5, 2015 • Page 5
Ruiz 4 Kids seeks scholarship applications
In the past five years, Ruiz
4 Kids has awarded over
one million dollars in scholarships to hundreds of high
school seniors committed to
furthering their education.
Last year, the charitable
organization awarded a
record-setting $334,000 to
245 students, and is poised
to do more of the same in
2015. This year, in addition
to accepting applications
from high school seniors
planning to attend a fouryear college or university,
Ruiz 4 Kids is also accepting scholarship applications
from high school seniors
who plan to attend a twoyear college or vocational
institution.
“One of the greatest
thrills is learning how a
scholarship recipient’s life
has been impacted by the
award,” explained Ron
Woods, Ruiz 4 Kids
President. Ruiz 4 Kids
serves as the nonprofit
branch of Ruiz Foods,
where Woods is the
Transportation Manager.
“Whether they’ve graduated from a university and
became a doctor, or attended a trade school and
opened their own business,
we understand the importance education has in
improving not only the
quality of life of individuals, but also the quality of
life within our communities.”
According to Woods,
Ruiz 4 Kids receives over
600 scholarship applications each year and review
teams comprised of a couple dozen Ruiz Foods team
members volunteer to make
group selections. Applicants
must be located within a 50mile radius of where Ruiz
Foods has a presence —
Dinuba, California, and
Denison, Texas. Also,
beginning this year with the
addition of a plant in
Florence, South Carolina,
applications will be accepted from high school seniors
within Florence city limits.
“It has become evident
to those of us involved in
the review and selection
process, that sometimes it
isn’t about the actual monetary award,” adds Woods.
“For many of these students, it is the knowledge
that those involved in Ruiz
4 Kids and Ruiz Foods
believe in them and their
ability to accomplish great
achievements.”
In addition to the financial and emotional boost the
award
brings, Woods
quipped the recipients also
receive over $100 in
coupons for free product
from Ruiz Foods which
includes their El Monterey
brand burritos, taquitos and
tamales. “Some recipients
get just as excited about the
food as they do the award,”
he added. “Ruiz 4 Kids’
mission is to provide opportunities to inspire hope and
change in children’s lives.
We truly believe our
Scholarship Program does
just that.”
Applicants must have a
2.5 GPA or above to apply if
they plan on attending a
two-year college or vocational institution. Those
who will be attending a
four-year college or university must have a GPA of 3.0
or more. To learn more
about the Ruiz 4 Kids
Scholarship Program and
access the guidelines and
application,
visit:
http://www.ruiz4kids.org/pr
ograms-scholarships.aspx.
The deadline for submission is March 6, 2015.
Ruiz 4 Kids raises the
monies for the Scholarship
Program via an annual golf
tournament — the Ruiz
Invitational. Scheduled for
April 28, 2015 at the Valley
Oaks Golf Course in
Visalia, California, the
event attracts a wide variety
of vendors and suppliers to
Ruiz Foods, drawing over
240 of their representative
golfers from across the
country.
About Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
About Ruiz Foods
Products, Inc.—Ruiz Foods
is a privately owned corporation with corporate offices
in Dinuba, California. Third
generation Kim Ruiz Beck,
the elder daughter, is
Chairman. Her father, Fred
Ruiz, is Co-Founder and
Chairman Emeritus. Rachel
Cullen is President and CEO.
Ruiz Foods is dedicated
to premium quality, authentically prepared frozen
foods selling to all channels
of distribution: retail, convenience store, clubs, vending, industrial and foodservice. The El Monterey
brand is the market leader
within the frozen Mexican
food category and the No 1.
brand of frozen Mexican
food in the U.S. The
Tornados brand, introduced
just ten years ago, is the No.
1 roller grill product sold in
convenience stores. Ruiz
Foods employs over 2,400
Team Members with four
manufacturing
facilities
located in the United States.
City of Avenal Animal Shelter
1284 Hydril Rd., Avenal, CA 559-386-1112
Open For Adoptions 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday Pet Pick Ups No Later Than 3:00 p.m.
We need a good home!