Reflections from San Diego Pride: A Year in Review
July 29, 2025 | By Rogelio Espinoza

By Rogelio Espinoza, Program Manager, National Rainbow College Fund
As I walked through San Diego Pride this year, surrounded by color, community, and resilience, I felt a wave of reflection wash over me. Almost exactly one year ago, in September 2024, I joined San Diego Foundation and began working on what would become National Rainbow College Fund (NRCF). At the time, it was just a concept—a bold, hopeful idea to uplift LGBTQ+ college students through scholarships and support.
To stand there this July, less than a year later, and witness the fruits of that vision brought to life was nothing short of incredible.
This year’s Pride was a reminder of what’s possible when a community commits to showing up for its people. Our recipients were present, proud, visible, and standing confidently alongside professionals, advocates, and allies who reflected their identities and aspirations. That visibility matters. It sends a message to our scholars: You belong here. You are seen. You are valued.
Meeting our recipients face-to-face—after months of application reviews, planning sessions and impact reports, was incredibly rewarding. Not only are these students bright and driven, they are courageous. Many are navigating personal and societal challenges that most adults would find overwhelming. Yet here they were, representing the next generation of leaders, changemakers and dreamers.
San Diego Pride offered a vibrant reminder of community, love and acceptance. It reminded me why we do this work—why scholarships alone aren’t enough, and why connection, mentorship, and visibility are just as critical to a student’s success.
I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished this first year. We launched a bonafide program. We reached students across the state. We built bridges between foundations, schools and communities. But more than anything, we planted seeds of possibility—and this Pride, I saw them bloom.
To everyone who has supported NRCF in its first year: thank you. Here’s to many more.
Want to Make a Difference?
Here’s how you can support LGBTQ+ students: