IMPACT Foundation awards 19 scholarships
By Ashley Shah
Todd Durkin, founder of the IMPACT Foundation, awarded 19 IMPACT scholarships this year.
“The scholarships are given out to high school seniors who will be pursuing athletics in college. In addition, these students have shown academic achievement, community service, character, extracurricular activities, etc.,” Durkin said.
Eleven students from Scripps Ranch High School were awarded the scholarship: Nate Bottomley, who will attend the University of Tennessee; Lauren Bucky, who will attend Loyola Marymount University; Charlize Fernandez, who will attend the University of Miami; Sadie Keegan, who will attend Purdue University; Michelle Kramer, who will attend Baylor University; Juniper Le, who will attend UCLA; Tyler Luke, who will attend Samford University; Norah Lutz, who will attend Tulane University; Moriah Mingo, who will attend Bluefield University; Dahlen Vilbrandt, who will attend UC Berkeley; and Rowen Wimmer, who will attend the University of Utah.
Additionally, five students from Brick Township High School in New Jersey were awarded the scholarship: Kurt Weiboldt Jr., who will attend King’s College; Ryan Bontorno, who will attend Monmouth University; Dominick Anthony, who will attend Villanova University; Kiley Groschel, who will attend Coastal Carolina University; and Desirae Majett, who will attend Eastern University.
Three students from other high schools across the nation were awarded the scholarship: Gianni Alejandro Martinez Drab – Mystic, Ct., who will attend Northeastern University, Boston; Tate Gordon – Mystic, Ct., who will attend the University of Connecticut; Felice Mullinax – Columbia City, In., who will attend LeTourneau University.
More than $15,000 were awarded in IMPACT scholarships this year. The scholarships range from $500 to $1,500.
“It is an honor to be able to provide these students with a scholarship,” Durkin said.
Durkin began the IMPACT Foundation more than 10 years ago.
“In 2012, Hurricane Sandy crushed the eastern seaboard, including the Jersey Shore, which is where I am from. I still had family there, and I was not able to connect with them. It was because of that I knew I had to start making a difference, so I started the IMPACT Foundation,” Durkin said. “In one week, we had raised around $80,000. All of the money that was raised went right back to those affected by Hur-
ricane Sandy.”
Since 2012, he has been able to raise more than $350,000 to award in scholarships, to families in need and to those dealing with mental health issues.
“After the pandemic, we have been trying to raise money to go into programs for suicide prevention. Recently, we lost two young athletes to suicide. They were students that I knew and helped train. We cannot lose any more kids to suicide,” Durkin said.
The funds come from fundraisers that Durkin hosts, donations, or from online sales from todddurkin.com.
Durkin is the founder and business partner of Fitness Quest 10 in Scripps Ranch, an author, trainer and motivational speaker.
“On July 6, we are having a book signing for my latest book called ‘True Strength.’ I will be giving a talk. We are going to have a question and answer session. A portion of the money from these events goes back to the foundation,” he said.
This event will be held at the newly opened Fitness Quest 10 location at 10625 Scripps Poway Parkway in Scripps Ranch Marketplace.