Sutherland – Gerald “The Brick” Sutherland Scholarship Grant

Sutherland – Gerald “The Brick” Sutherland Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Coastal Bend Community Foundation
Last Updated: September 26, 2025

Summary

The Sutherland – Gerald 'The Brick' Sutherland Scholarship, established by Gerald Sutherland's family, aims to support students in the Coastal Bend pursuing vocational, trade, craft, or technology programs. Funded by the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, this scholarship reflects a commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and improving the quality of life in the region. Eligibility requires students to be high school graduates or GED holders residing in the CBCF service area and enrolled full-time in accredited programs.

Overview

Coastal Bend Community Foundation Forty years ago, the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, together with community leaders Cecil Burney, Pat Eisenhauer and Dick Sells launched a public foundation to promote and encourage philanthropy in the Coastal Bend. With an initial donation of $150,000 from the Paul and Mary Haas Foundation and borrowed office space at the Chamber of Commerce, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation was established in 1981. Today, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation is one of approximately 900 community foundations in the United States. Its charitable impact has been profound, but it does not accomplish this work alone. Through the generosity of its donors and the foresight of the Foundation’s founders and directors, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation has grown assets to over $108 million while awarding over $141 million in grants and scholarships through 2021. The Foundation serves the Coastal Bend counties of Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio through its 307 funds. The Coastal Bend Community Foundation invites anyone who is interested in meeting the charitable needs of this area to partner to “improve the quality of life” in the Coastal Bend. The Mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the Coastal Bend by building community endowment and addressing social, educational, environmental, and cultural needs through the awarding of grants and scholarships. The Foundation’s Vision is to provide the Coastal Bend with: Efficient gift options to meet donors’ charitable wishesEffective grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to studentsEthical leadership to promote and enhance area philanthropy Sutherland – Gerald “The Brick” Sutherland Scholarship To honor his career as a brick mason contractor, Gerald Sutherland's wife and children established the scholarship to help students pursuing a vocational, trade, craft or technology curriculum.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Be a high school graduate or hold a GED equivalency, residing in the CBCF seven-county service areaBe enrolled full-time in an accredited vocational, trade, craft or technology curriculum in a community college, technical, vocational or trade school