MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2009 HONOREES

Candace Curtis

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation will honor two prominent Southern California business leaders for their patriotism and professional achievements, as well as for their contributions to the country and their local communities. The awards will be presented by the evening’s military guest of honor — Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T. Conway — at the 27th Annual Marine Scholarship Ball on October 17th at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point.

Newport Beach resident Michael K. Hayde, CEO of the Western National Group, will receive the Foundation’s highest honor — the Semper Fidelis Award. During his tenure with Western National Group, which is headquartered in Irvine, the company has experienced tremendous growth, adding more than 12,000 units to its management portfolio. Throughout the 2000’s, Western National Group has continued to expand and remains the premier, third party apartment property management company in the Western United States A Southern California native, Mr. Hayde is a member of the Urban Land Institute, a governor of the ULI Foundation, and past chairman of the California Housing Council. He is also active in both the National Multi Housing Council and the California Apartment Association. Additionally, working in conjunction with former Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates, Mr. Hayde founded Drug Use is Life Abuse — a nationally recognized, nonprofit, drug-education organization. Mr. Hayde’s charitable efforts further extend to fundraising on behalf of Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of Orange County, City of Hope, Chapman University, and Sisters of the Sacred Heart. A generous supporter of the United Way, Mr. Hayde is currently chairing a fundraising campaign for UCI Medical Center’s Cancer Center.

Orange County resident Herbert W. Kalmbach, Esq., will receive this year’s Globe and Anchor Award. For more than five decades, Mr. Kalmbach has been a prominent, widely respected, Southern California attorney and businessman. A Michigan native, Mr. Kalmbach moved to California and founded the law firm of Kalmbach, DeMarco, Knapp & Chillingsworth. A founder and director emeritus of The Pacific Club and a charter member of Big Canyon Country Club, Mr. Kalmbach served as board chairman of the Bank of Newport and is currently of counsel to the national law firm Baker & Hostetler, LLP. Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, Mr. Kalmbach was extremely active in the Republican Party and went on to serve as President Nixon’s personal attorney from 1969 to 1974. He also became an advisor to and friend of President Reagan. Always active in his community, Mr. Kalmbach has served as an honorary governor of the historic Balboa Bay Club, a director of the Beckman Laser Institute, a director of Hoag memorial Presbyterian Hospital’s 552 Club, and a director of the Lincoln Club.

Ambassador George Argyros, the 2007 Semper Fidelis honoree, and Jack H. Brown, the 2008 Semper Fidelis honoree, will serve as Dinner Chairmen of this year’s Ball. Other prominent Orange County supporters of the Foundation and this year’s event include Geoffrey Stack, Michael Joseph, and former Governor Pete Wilson.

For nearly 50 years, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has honored Marines by helping to fund their children’s access to higher education. The Foundation’s mission is simple — provide financial assistance, in the form of scholarships for higher education — to deserving sons and daughters of Marines and children of former Marines.

The financial situation among many Marine families is critical. Today, the average household income of our scholarship recipients is under $41,000 a year — a figure that is significantly below our qualifying family income level that cannot exceed the pay grade of a sergeant major.

The Foundation gives particular priority to children whose parent was killed or wounded in action. Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Foundation committed to provide Heroes Tribute Scholarships totaling — at minimum — $30,000 over four years to every child of a Marine or Navy Corpsmen serving with the Marines whose parent is killed in combat in the global war on terror, regardless of family income. This commitment brings with it the need for more than $13 million. As of July 2009, nearly 440 children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen serving with the Marines have lost a parent as a result of this global war.

Since its founding in 1962, the Foundation has awarded more than 23,500 scholarships totaling some $42.5 million, including $3.5 million to more than 1,400 scholarship recipients for the 2009/2010 academic year. These scholarships have helped transform the lives of thousands of deserving young people and their families. Additionally, the Foundation is committed to minimizing our expenses through best practices and the service of hundreds of dedicated volunteers, keeping our current expense ratio at 11.74 percent.

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has received a “Four Star” rating by Charity Navigator and “Best in America” by the Independent Charities of America for demonstrating the highest standards of public accountability and program cost effectiveness. For more information about the upcoming Marine Scholarship Ball, visit www.westcoastmarineball.org.