From Borrego Springs to Changemaker: Edward Rivera’s Journey with San Diego Foundation and National Rainbow College Fund
May 02, 2025 | By NRCF Team
In the heart of Borrego Springs — a small, isolated desert town two hours from downtown San Diego — Edward “Eddie” Rivera’s story of resilience and hope takes root.
Growing up where “the desert was your backyard, front yard and side yard,” Eddie experienced firsthand what it meant to be part of a close-knit community.
“Folks will kind of look out for each other and they’ll take care of each other,” he reflects.
Today, Eddie continues to embody that spirit of care — as a volunteer, mentor and advocate for students across San Diego County.
Finding a Path Forward
After graduating from Borrego Springs High School in 2018, Eddie set his sights on Cal Poly Humboldt, choosing the furthest university he could find from home.
“I was kind of like running away from something,” he laughs, “but I was also on a journey of self-discovery.”
Though Humboldt was even more isolated in some ways, Eddie found community within the Critical Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department.
“I would read about experiences and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I went through this. I didn’t know it had a name.’”
Those classes empowered Eddie not only academically but personally — giving voice to intersections of his identity as a queer, Mexican American student from a small town.
Eddie switched his major, built lifelong friendships, and cultivated a passion for social justice — a passion that still defines his work today.
The Power of Scholarships: A Lifeline to Dreams
Navigating college life was not just emotionally challenging — it was financially daunting.
Fortunately, Eddie’s path crossed with the San Diego Foundation’s Community Scholarship Program. A high school counselor, Elizabeth Stevens — herself a San Diego Foundation (SDF) volunteer — introduced Eddie to scholarship opportunities he had never heard about.
At first, Eddie doubted whether he even qualified.
“I had some low grades in math,” he admits, “and I wasn’t even going to qualify for a four-year university without some intervention.”
But with guidance and determination, he and several classmates applied for the Weil Family Foundation Scholarship, which is administered by SDF.
“When we applied, there were only supposed to be four scholarships, but they read all our stories and decided to give all of us one,” Eddie recalls.
The renewable scholarship provided critical support.
“It helped a tremendous amount. I could just focus on school and rent — not worry constantly about how to pay tuition.”
Thanks to that stability, Eddie thrived at Humboldt, graduating with an impressive GPA — and a heart full of gratitude for the people who believed in his potential.
Giving Back: Lifting Up the Next Generation
After college, Eddie returned to Borrego Springs and joined a local nonprofit, Basic Assistance to Students in the Community (BASIC), as Development and Community Outreach Director. There, he created and ran a literacy program for local families.
“If you don’t have childcare, folks won’t be able to make it,” he explains. “We made sure to offer that, plus free books and tablets for the kids.”
Through grant writing — including securing funds from SDF — Eddie helped the program grow.
“It was probably my favorite thing I did there,” he shares warmly.
Today, Eddie serves on the board of the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center and volunteers with the SDF’s Community Scholarship Program executive committee, paying forward the support he once received.
“It’s been a lot of fun to help out in any way I can,” he says. “It’s gratifying to give back to an organization that gave so much to me — and to Borrego.”
Building New Avenues: National Rainbow College Fund
In 2024, Eddie stepped into a new role, helping to review applications for what eventually became the National Rainbow College Fund — a scholarship for LGBTQ+ students, including those who may not be out to their families.
“When the Rainbow Fund was introduced, we all got a little giddy about it,” Eddie says. “Especially at a time when there are literal attacks on the trans community, it felt like a lifeline. It felt like something I would have loved when I was in college.”
As a queer person who came out at 16, Eddie feels a deep connection to the fund’s mission.
“I want students to know — whether they’re out or not — that there’s a place for them. That their identities are seen and valued.”
Reading applications from scholarship hopefuls, Eddie sees echoes of his own story.
“It takes me back. I know exactly how they’re feeling. I was there seven years ago.”
He is continually inspired by the next generation. “They’re so capable. They’re going to kill it.”
Looking Ahead: Honoring Roots, Embracing the Future
Now, Eddie is working toward a master’s degree at San Diego State University. His thesis will focus on queer experiences in rural desert communities like Borrego Springs. His goal is to lift up the untold stories of small-town queer youth — stories often overlooked in broader cultural narratives.
“I want kids from places like Borrego to see that their stories matter,” Eddie says. “There’s beauty in where you come from. There’s joy and resilience, even when it’s hard to see it day-to-day.”
To queer students feeling isolated, Eddie offers a powerful message: “Use your joy as resistance. Don’t rush to grow up. Know that you are not alone — and your future is so much bigger and brighter than you can imagine.”
Through his leadership, scholarship and unwavering heart, Eddie Rivera shows that community support — and the belief that every story matters — can change lives. His journey is a testament to the power of enduring philanthropy and the infinite potential unlocked when we invest in each other.
National Rainbow College Fund
National Rainbow College Fund (NRCF) is among the initiatives launched during SDF’s Fifty & Forward Campaign, which has set a 50th anniversary goal of granting $500 million to realize our region’s greatest opportunities in three key areas: education, children and families, and the environment – and raising $1 billion to help shape our community’s future.
NRCF is the first scholarship designed to exclusively support LGBTQ+ students pursuing their ambitions for higher education regardless of the public nature of the student’s sexual identity. Setting the precedent in California, SDF’s vision is for the fund to grow to be a national source of financial aid for LGBTQ+ students to attend the technical school, college or university of their choosing.