Want to help Fresno-area students with your Giving Tuesday dollars on Nov. 28? You’ve got options.

The Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools is asking for donations to help fund student scholarships.

Last year more than 200 graduating seniors received scholarship funding through the foundation, three times as many as the year before. Scholarships are critically needed, because nearly 83% of Fresno Unified students need financial assistance to go to college.

And yes, there will be a “regional rivalry” again this year, pitting the seven high school regions — each with a trustee ready to do a little friendly arm-twisting — and an eighth region that includes the magnet and alternative education schools that will be championed by Superintendent Bob Nelson.

The goal is for 150 donors per region. And to make the rivalry even more exciting, the foundation will conduct two challenges: The region with the most donors by midnight Nov. 28 will earn an extra $500 for scholarships for that region, and the region that gets the largest gift of the day by midnight will get an extra $500 for scholarships for the region.

Last year the Edison High region won both challenges and took home the regional rivalry trophy.

Each region will have its own QR code that will be shared on social media and email. Or you can donate at this link.

“Giving Tuesday is a fantastic and fun way to invest in our students, by helping them achieve their college dreams through scholarship support,” Nelson said in a news release.

Ram Pantry Feeds Students

For the sixth year, Fresno City College will participate in the #GivingTuesday fundraising campaign to benefit the college’s Ram Pantry. The goal this year is to raise $40,000.

The Ram Pantry is a free food assistance program that is designed to reduce food insecurity among enrolled students. Without it, students might be focusing on hunger instead of their studies.

This year the pantry saw record-breaking numbers of students every day. So far in the fall semester, more than 1,100 student visits have occurred daily, for a total of more than 50,000.

The Giving Tuesday campaign in 2022 netted more than $42,000 for Ram Pantry.

Ways to give: Donate online, text RAMPANTRY to 44-321P, or go to www.fresnocitycollege.edu/givingtuesday.