Scholarships Created in Memory of Richmond Resident Whose Estate Gifted $835,000 to CCC Foundation

The Contra Costa College Foundation has received a gift of $835,000 from the estate of Geraldine M. Packard. The donation will fund 12 annual scholarships through the newly established Packard-Zell Scholarship Fund.

“We are thrilled to be able to support even more students from our community looking for a second chance, thanks to the generosity of Ms. Packard,” said Sara Marcellino of the Contra Costa College Foundation. “This gift of education will support hundreds of our students – who are everyday heroes – over the next several decades.”

An East Bay Times obituary shared that Geraldine M. Packard, known as Geri, was the daughter of Frank and Mary Zell and a longtime Bay Area resident. Geri attended Reed College in Portland, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree. She married Bob Packard on August 20, 1964 and later moved to Richmond where they resided for more than 30 years. She was a beloved school teacher and librarian who served the communities of Cupertino and Alameda for more than 20 years.

If you’d also like to support the Contra Costa College Foundation, contact Sara Marcellino at 510.215.3805 or smarcellino@contracosta.edu.