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.
We can’t replace the contribution a parent makes in so many areas of life, but we can show every queer or trans person that we love them as the perfect, unique and wonderful person they are. The Mom Fund is our way to show that love and it’s an honor to be part of it. – Eve Hwang
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.
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: 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. Carole Lockhart has recently stepped up to support and join the founder’s in their mission.
My mom loved me, and education. Through a loving and education-driven approach to understanding, she came to not only accept who I am, but to embrace me unconditionally. So has my church community. Time, understanding, education, and love have led many facets of our community to abandon past criticisms of the LGBTQ community and replace them with support for the community. This is a community-wide example of my journey and a mother’s love. – Dustin O’Quinn
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.
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.
