The Mom Fund
How The Mom Fund Was Born
In 2022, a group of GSBA Board Members past and present, came together with a shared idea: to create a scholarship fund rooted in care.
The Mom Fund was established through the collective generosity of Carole Lockhart, Dustin O’Quinn, Eve Hwang, and Roby Schapira. Their fund honoring the spirit of the love, care, and nurturing they experienced from their own mothers, and the kind of care they hope to cultivate within the LGBTQ+ community.
Quote from the founders about why they wanted to create this fund.
The Meaning Behind “Mom”
The name “The Mom Fund” came from a place of the heart, care, encouragement, and the belief that people thrive when they feel supported. The fund represents both gratitude and intention. It honors the care they received from the womxn who raised them while also extending that spirit of compassion and nurturing to our LGBTQ+ community.
When a Few People Show Up Big
The Mom Fund is a reminder of what can happen when people come together around shared beliefs.
Rather than a single donor establishing the fund, GSBA Board Members past and present Carole Lockhart, Dustin O’Quinn, Eve Hwang, and Roby Schapira joined forces to create something meaningful for LGBTQ+ students. Each contribution became part of a collective effort rooted in care, encouragement, and opportunity.
Opening Doors for Scholars
Since its creation, The Mom Fund has already helped support GSBA Scholars pursuing their educational goals:
Casey graduated from Hampshire College in 2024 with a degree in law.
Mateo is currently completing his degree at the University of Washington in Visual Arts and English with a concentration in Creative Writing.
A Fund Built to Keep Nurturing
Named scholarship funds like The Mom Fund help ensure that GSBA can continue supporting LGBTQ+ students for years to come. For the founders, the goal is simple: extend care, open doors, and help scholars pursue their ambitions with the support of a community behind them.
“The Mom Fund represents the kind of long-term investment that strengthens this program at its core. It gives us the ability to support more scholars, expand opportunity, and ensure this work continues well into the future.”
– Stacy Harbour-Van Hoy, GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund Director.
If a named fund is something that you would like to explore, email Stacy and the scholarship team to learn more: Scholarship@thegsba.org
Would you like to make a smaller donation? Consider giving monthly here.
