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The class of 2023 was awarded $78,000!!!
SupportAbility continues to provide scholarships to high school senior students who have overcome tremendous obstacles. The Julie Inman Courage Award and its Memorial Awards has given $1.2 million to date.
“All of our dreams can come true- if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Walt Disney
‘SupportAbility’ Offers Scholarships to Students Who Overcome the Odds
THE EPOCH TIMES – August 27, 2021 Updated: August 31, 2021
By Hawken Miller – Printed with permission
When she was 15 years old, Julie Inman collapsed on a Colorado ski slope.
A hemorrhage in her brain resulting from arteriovenous malformation—an abnormal clump of blood vessels—had nearly killed her.
She woke up after life-saving surgery, only retaining the ability to hear and blink. Everything else, including swallowing, talking, and reading, would have to be relearned.
Despite it all, Inman returned to school at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, a year later and graduated in 1984. She went on to get her English degree at the University of Southern California and find a full-time job writing press releases for Grubb & Ellis, a real estate firm.
Now 56, Inman is still unable to walk and her fine motor function is affected, but she’s been on a 21-year mission through her organization, SupportAbility, to help high school students with similar hardships — whether they be physical, environmental, or mental—to attend a four-year university or junior college.
Since Inman founded the organization in 2000, SupportAbility has awarded $1 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students at 15 Orange County high schools and seven in Los Angeles County.
“To a lot of the kids, it makes a huge difference,” Inman told The Epoch Times from her home in Irvine, California. “The award really helped them feel like they could continue with college and be successful, and someone recognized them.”
(READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE)
Paintings like this one painted by Julie were sold. A new way to donate! (Check out our new page – Art for a Cause.)
2023 Reception
Mary Hickey shows her latest purchase to fellow Board member, Katharine Trotter at the Shelby Auto Museum.
Recipient from 2022 celebrates at our recent reception in 2023. 
Past recipient and college graduate, Christain Villameuera, poses for a picture with Board member Patti Inman.
Established in 2001 – Celebrating the class of 2023!
We give the Julie Inman Courage Scholarship, plus two separate scholarships and twelve memorial awards. It is our hope that our recipients will pay it forward and recognize the importance for giving!
Hand-painted greeting cards by Julie, four for $20. are being sold! This fundraiser has been extended indefinitely! Order thru Julie first at [email protected] – now accepting Venmo!
Blake Tomalas from Newport Harbor High at our 2023 Reception.
“Courage is the most important of the seven virtues!”
Mya Angelou
Appeals Letter
We will send our Annual Appeals Letter in November. Please email Julie, [email protected], to be placed on our mailing list.
Awards & Memorials
1.The Julie Inman Courage Award – this was our main event.
Awards are presented to high school seniors who have fought tremendous obstacles in order to graduate. In 2023 we awarded over 45 high school seniors!
Memorial Awards
Memorial Awards are arranged by family members to honor their loved ones. We administer these awards at their Alma Mater. They are legacies!
The Max Garrick Jr. Memorial Courage Award is given to a student who has a love for learning or is going into law. Max was a huge supporter of SupportAbility. In 2022 Andi Garrick chose Connor Tung from Troy High School in Fullerton.
A past recipient, Ariana, just passed the Bar and is now practicing her trade!!
The Michael Motherway Memorial Courage Award is presented each year at Mater Dei High School. Michael passed away after battling ALS. He is a Mater Dei Alum. Dr. Julia Motherway chose Leah von Rotz and Trent Carlyle.
The Jane Noebel Memorial Courage Award is given out at Mater Dei High School where Jane’s three children graduated. Jane passed away suddenly from cancer. In 2022 Barry Noebel two recipients, Joshua Casillas and Jackson Obleta.
The Dr. Edward Garr Memorial Courage Award was set up three year. Dr. Garr’s Award is given out at Mater Dei High School to a student going into the medical field. In 2022 Bunny Garr chose Claire Witherspoon.
The Dorey Madrid Memorial Courage Award is given at Troy High School. Dorey was a much loved English teacher. She battled cancer for four years. Our award is given to a cancer victim or survivor. In 2022 SupportAbility chose Connor Tung.
The Sue Herndon Memorial Courage Award began this year. Sue was a wonderful woman who passed away too soon. Her Award went to Blake Tomalas.
The Meghan Noyes Memorial Courage Award started by her grandmother, Joann. Meghan was twenty-six when she passed away from cancer. Audrey Presby of Newport Harbor High received the Award.
The Jon Pomeroy Memorial Courage Award My beloved uncle passed away far too soon! It was his charitable work that inspired me to start SupportAbility years ago!! His award is new this year and will be given to a very deserving student.
All of the Julie Inman Courage Award recipients and those who receive memorial awards are eligible for book money and future mentorship, support and friendship. Just ask …
Three SupportAbility Scholarships
Announcing Our College Scholarships
The Carol B. Mooney Courage Scholarship – Carol Mooney is a retired teacher from Villa Park High School where we have a student club established by long-time contributor Barbara Barnett. This year three recipients received a $2300 scholarship for their courage. Audrey Presby from Newport Harbor High School, Leah von Rotz from Mater Dei High School and Lily Cowan from Newport Harbor were honored.
This year – 2023
This year we were honored to give this scholarship to “C” Heis from Long Beach Poly. She is going to UCSD in the Fall to study Political Science. An anonymous donor made this four-year $100,000 scholarship possible. The Four-Year SupportAbility Scholarship has been awarded to two physically disabled students. They have been awarded $25,000 a year for four years. The previous two students were also very deserving: one having a severe eye disability and the other a rare heart condition. They chose different universities. One chose University of Southern California and the other chose Cal Poly Pomona. A very complete interview process helps the Supportability Board of Directors to choose the recipient.
They are asked to stay in contact with us, send us their grades and transcripts and keep us posted as to their progress. Supportability is able to send them book money per their request.
All of the candidates were so outstanding SO …
We established our own scholarship funded by SupportAbility. It is different from our award which is given only once. This scholarship is given for 4 years.
Connor Tong from Troy High in Brea will receive $10,000 a year.
Leah Von Rotz from Mater Dei will receive $5000 a year.
Blake Tomales will receive $1000 a year for his courage.
2018 scholarship recipient Bich at her surprise party with SupportAbility. She graduated in 2021!!
Now has her Masters in Public Health and working for a local non-profit corporation that helps
women in need in South Central L.A.
Hayley, our 2019 recipient, is celebrated by Julie at SupportAbility’s surprise meeting.
Hayley is finishing her senior year!
Meet C, our CURRENT 2023 SupportAbility Scholarship recipient. She will be attending UCSD in the Fall. Her major will be Political Science.
It is our hope that recipients will stay in touch with us, pay it forward and one day mentor other recipients by attending fundraisers!
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