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Investment firm donates to scholarship fund
Memorial helps students who lose a parent

by Jeb Bing

Employees at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney's Berkeley branch have contributed $822 to the Tri-Valley Community Foundation's Tom Peters Memorial Scholarship Fund, which benefits high school students who have suffered through the death of one or both parents and are planning on attending college.

Chris Peters, a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney manager, who established the fund, presented the donation to David Rice, president of the Tri-Valley Community Foundation. A graduate of Foothill High School, he said that when his father died while he was still in high school, many in Pleasanton where the family lived reached out to help. The Tri-Valley organization made it manageable, he added, and said it the organization has the right reputation to do the most good in handling the memorial fund.

Chris Peters' mother, Patti, teaches mathematics at Amador Valley High School.

Every month since July 2007, the Berkeley investment branch has identified a local charity for employee donations. Donations to date total over $28,000.

"It is always heartwarming to see people come together to support others, especially when the recipients have experienced hardship," Rice said in accepting the donation.