History and Vision of the Heid Scholarship Foundation
Orange County Businesswoman and Santa Ana High School Alumni Joan Heid founded the Dennis John Heid Memorial Foundation in 2009 after years of contemplation about how she could make the best and biggest impact the community where she grew up with her sister Judy, and brother Dennis. Assisted by her lifelong friends Richard and Susan Hawley, she formed the Foundation in memory of her brother, whose life was cut short at 19 by cancer. Rich, having a background in accounting and Susan, having a background in education, were incredible assets in the formation and execution of the Foundation. All three had an amazing college experience at the University of Southern California, and their hope was to perpetuate access to higher education to a promising, ethical, and goal-oriented High School Senior.
Joan’s core philosophy was that education is the key to a better society, and by providing more access to SAHS students, she would directly impact the trajectory of the community. Joan, in the last seven years of her life, was able dictate the core values and operations of the Foundation that are still honored today. Although she passed away from cancer herself in 2016, the Foundation continues to fulfill her vision of more access to education in her memory.
The Foundation currently offers three types of scholarships. The Heid Scholarship is a full scholarship covering tuition, room and board, supplies, books, and tutoring. The Hawley Spirit award, named for Richard and Susan Hawley who were instrumental in the creation and operations of the Foundation, is a set amount scholarship awarded to students for use at the University of their choice, and is also in memory of Richard Hawley who passed in 2016. The Denny Award is a $1,000 scholarship for use at the students’ University of their choice.