A Decade of Local Giving

Christy Mills remembers her parents, Bob and Betsy Darrow, as being fervent advocates for the causes they believed in.

“Both of them were really feisty in different ways,” Christy says. “My mom was passionate about local politics, and my dad was an intense prosecutor in the DA’s office.”

Their passion translated into leadership. The Darrows volunteered for more than five decades, and they dedicated their time and energy to help make Santa Cruz a better place. It was in that spirit that their children decided to honor their parents and help local students in their name.

Over the last ten years, the Bob and Betsy Darrow Scholarship at the Community Foundation has helped dozens of local students achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education. The award is given to promising Santa Cruz County high school seniors as they embark on their college career, and recipients have gone on to do meaningful work across the globe in fields such as medicine, biochemistry, sociology, and civil engineering. Established in 2014, 27 students have received the Darrow scholarship, totaling $58,000 in awards given.

A Santa Cruz Love Story

Bob and Betsy Darrow were pillars of the Santa Cruz community. They met in Santa Cruz in 1953 and began raising a family while also becoming involved in local nonprofits and community organizations. Bob ran a successful law practice for 55 years and he served on the board of the local Salvation Army for 50 years, as well as on the board for Grey Bears. Betsy was president of the local United Way, was a member of the League of Women Voters, and served on the Santa Cruz Planning Commission. They resided in the city for almost 60 years and raised five children, Rob, Marty, Andy, Steve, and Christy. After 54 years together, Betsy passed away in 2009 and Bob followed soon after in 2010.

The passion that Bob and Betsy shared was anchored by their love for each other and for their community. Rob has carried on the Darrows’ tradition of community building. He is a longtime educator and LGBTQ advocate, and is the chair of Santa Cruz Pride, which celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year. He says that his parents always held themselves accountable to the causes and organizations they were a part of.

“They were always loyal to their friends and dependable and responsible to the groups they were involved in. If they weren’t in charge, they were making sure that the people in charge were doing what they were supposed to,” Rob says.

Giving Back to the Community

After their parents passed, the siblings wanted to give back to the Santa Cruz community in their name and continue the work their parents had started. For years, Bob had administered the Graham-Fancher Scholarship Fund, which was started by local philanthropists. When he passed, Rob learned about the meaningful work his father had facilitated and wanted to keep it going. But administering the fund proved to be a daunting task and the siblings needed help. They decided to reach out to the Foundation. Rob says “we tried to manage it for a year-and-a-half but found out it was way too much work. Working with the Foundation has been so helpful. The staff does all the fund administration and scholarship selection, and we love learning about the awardees every year.”

Transforming Local Lives

Nearly a decade after its establishment, the Bob and Betsy Darrow Scholarship Fund has helped transform the lives of local individuals. This year’s recipients are Adriana Gonzales-Vasquez and Alex Aparicio Hernandez, two children of immigrant parents who wish to honor their family’s sacrifice by graduating from college and embarking on successful careers. Both will attend San Jose State in the fall; Adriana plans on majoring in accounting while Alex wants to get a business degree. As the Darrow Scholarship sunsets this year, they will be the last students to receive the award.

Alex is a talented soccer player whose prowess on the pitch and innate leadership have given him the opportunity to compete in Spain and Costa Rica, where he also volunteered by bringing school supplies to low-income children. After graduating he wants to use his skills back home, helping to manage his parents’ business finances. Adriana also wants to give back to her community. Although she is a talented writer and natural creative, she chose a more pragmatic path to secure her and her family’s future. She wants to help her community by coaching people in financial literacy.

An Enduring Legacy

Past Darrow recipients have gone on to work in various fields, including engineering. Tryston Cruz was awarded the scholarship in 2015 and earned a BA in civil engineering from Sacramento State University. The scholarship helped him get through his first two years of school while studying and working full time. Now, he works at a consulting firm specializing in drinking water systems.

Rosario Sosa Fuentes received the award in 2019 and went on to receive a degree in sociology from UCLA in 2023.

“It’s hard to put into words what this meant to me,” Rosario says. My life has completely changed in the past six years, and it wouldn’t have been possible without this award,”

For the Darrow siblings, it’s a bittersweet feeling to close the book on the scholarship. But they are sure that Bob and Betsy would have approved of what they were able to accomplish.

“I think they'd be overjoyed that something has lived on this long after they're gone. They would just be really thankful,” Christy says.