Richard Franco, Sonora High Class of 1968, was an outstanding four-sport athlete, a fine scholar and a student leader. After Richard passed away in 2012, Jake Franco (pictured, right), his sister Sarah and the extended Franco family wanted to do something “impactful” to honor him.
After considering many options, they decided to reconnect with their roots in Sonora which date back to the early 1900’s. The challenge was how to do so with Jake and his family living in London, and Sarah and her family living in San Diego. The Sonora Area Foundation filled their needs.
Scholarship Fund
This fund each year awards a scholarship to a graduating senior at Sonora High who excels in academics and leadership.
By working with the Sonora Area Foundation staff, Jake Franco established the Richard A. Franco Memorial Scholarship. The Franco Family participates in the selection of the annual recipient along with the Foundation staff. Acknowledging the long distance project, Jake commented “Having a strong, professional manager with a real local presence was extremely important for us. The Foundation has the expertise and infrastructure to oversee our fund.”