Introducing PURE Insurance Scholars
Kristin Piccini
VP, Marketing Communications
June 8, 2021
Our engagement with First Tee, a youth development organization that helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf, began six years ago when we became the title sponsor of the PURE Insurance Championship. Since then, our admiration for and support of this incredible organization has grown immensely, and we are proud to introduce the PURE Insurance Scholarship and the 2022 scholarship recipient.
PURE has pledged to raise $1 million by 2025 to support the program. Funding will come from a combination of dollars raised at our events, as well as an annual match of up to $100,000 from the PURE Insurance Foundation.
Each year, we will select a rising college freshman for our scholarship program. The scholarship program provides financial assistance and mentorship opportunities to select stand out juniors from the First Tee Scholarship Program. Scholarship recipients are selected based on financial need, academic performance, length of involvement in First Tee programs and commitment to volunteerism.
PURE pairs scholars selected into the program with high caliber professionals from within our organization (PURE and our parent and sister companies), as well as our network of brokers, members and partners. These highly successful individuals serve as the PURE Scholars’ dedicated mentors to help encourage them throughout their college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. In addition, the scholars have access to professional development workshops, financial assistance and help securing internships and job placement. PURE also contributes to educational sessions to share industry knowledge and expertise with the scholars.
Meet the 2022 PURE Insurance Scholar recipient
Jacob Zakaria
First Tee Central Coast alumnus, majoring in biology at University of California Berkeley
Jacob is inspired by his father, as well as uncles and aunts, who grew up in a war-struck refugee camp in Lebanon with little access to food, water and healthcare. He has been involved with First Tee for 12 years and volunteers as a coach and mentor to younger participants. He was selected to play in the 2021 PURE Insurance Championship, where he was surprised with his selection to the PURE Insurance Scholars program. Jacob is a three-time Mayors Award recipient for completing over 80 hours of community service in a year, is a member of the National Honors Society and was the captain of his high school varsity team. He scored a 1530 on his SATs and achieved a 4.69 GPA.
