Founded in 1972, The Group has raised over $1 million to support Otis students through scholarships.
In 1972, Kathleen Ahmanson, Nancy Call, Missy Chandler, and M.M. Miller, along with a few of their friends, created The Group—an independent volunteer organization that raises money to support Otis College through scholarships.
Today, more than 70 members of The Group actively raise funds for student scholarship through their annual dues and through fundraising opportunities like boutiques and Art Focus Days where members travel to local galleries, studios, private collections, and public exhibitions. “A lot of us are artists and people who just want to try and help the arts” says Ellen Castleman, The Group’s current president.
More than $1 million has been awarded by The Group to Otis College, with most of it going directly to student scholarships. The Group annually donates a scholarship for one student in each of the undergraduate academic majors. The recipients are chosen by their department chair. There are no stipulations for who or what the money goes to, so a student can use the funds for class materials, or even rent and food. “We let them do whatever they think will better their careers and their futures,” says Ellen.
Mandy Tong, ’22 BFA Fashion Design, Costume Design, Sustainability, and a 2022 Group Scholarship recipient, says the award lifted a huge weight off her shoulders. “Senior year is known to be one of the more expensive years in the Fashion Design department now that we have advanced our skills, granting us the ability to explore high-end fabrics such as wool, sequins, brocade, etc. I was able to design more freely without worrying about the cost of materials to create the most beautiful garments that I can,” Mandy says. “The scholarship also motivated me to continue to work harder so that I, too, in the future can give back to the community and support young fashion students.”
Sushey Elias, ’22 BFA Fine Arts, Painting, calls her 2022 Group Scholarship “a miracle—it’s helped me be more in-depth with my studies at Otis. I’ve been able to focus more on my studio. My classes. My pieces. I can be more creative with memories, color, scale, and time.”
Patrick J. Mahany, Otis College’s VP for Institutional Advancement, underscores the benefits of their half century of work. “Support from The Group is generous, consistent, and universal,” he says. “Fundamentally and without a doubt, this funding is critical to the academic success of these students and, by extension, their professional success after they graduate. The Group scholarships change lives.”
Your gift makes a difference in students’ lives. To learn how you can support their creativity and aspirations today and in the future, please contact Allison Graff-Weisner at (310) 658-6995 or agraffweisner@otis.edu.