Bobby Griffin MeMorial Art Award

About the The Award

The Bobby Griffin Memorial Art Scholarship was originally started in 1973 by Bob's Family to award a Scholarship and give recognition to a Senior Student at South Pasadena High School who showed a interest in pursuing Art as a career.

About Bobby:

Robert Alan or Bobby as he was known attended school in South Pasadena, CA from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. Bobby was a a gifted artist, musician, student, writer, photographer, athlete who lived his short life to the fullest making every second, minute and hour count.

Bob graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1972 and was awarded the Bank of America Art Scholarship for his artistic talents. After High School Bob took a 2 month journey to Canada in his MG sportscar before returning home and begin pursuing his aspiration to continue to hone his art skills at University of California Santa Barbara.

Tragically Bob's life was cut short in 1973 during his Freshman Year at UCSB. Bob and his roommate Mike Hillbloom both 19 at the time left us on March 21, 1973 in a 2 seater Cessna 150 plane in the mountains above Newhall, CA . Mike and Bob where minutes from arriving in Burbank, CA in route from Santa Barbara to attend Bob's Grandfathers funeral when the accident occurred on a rainy night in rough weather. Bob's untimely death left a lasting impression on all who knew Bob. What it left was live your life to the fullest, follow your dreams and don't waste a second, minute. Bob was never one to stand out or seek attention but his spirit continues to live on and it is an honor to keep his memory alive through the Bobby Griffin Memorial Art Award which like Bob wanted to go beyond South Pasadena which the Award fund has accomplished with the donations made to date. .

In 2015 Bob's younger brother reestablished the Bobby Griffin Memorial Art Scholarship which as mentioned was initially established in 1973 after Bob’s passing at the age of 19 while he was attending the University of California Santa Barbara majoring in Art.

Our mission is to continue to raise funds to create a lasting endowment for the Bobby Griffin Memorial Art Award as it is now named . The $250 Award was 1st awarded in 2016 and will be awarded every year to a deserving South Pasadena High School Senior who has an interest in pursuing Art as a career and submits a portfolio of work in the areas of paintings, drawings, logos, photography including digital arts. We have also made charitable donations from the fund outside of South Pasadena to worthwhile charitable causes

Other Non - Profits the Bobby Griffin Memorial Art Award has made donations to in Bobby's memory

Art Center College of Design Art Center Fund
Ernie Els - Els for Autism
Sons of Italy Foundation - Orders Sons and Daughters of Italy in America
Commemorative Air Force ( CAF)
South Pasadena Tournament of Roses
The Centennial Campaign for UCLA - School of Arts and Architecture
UCLA Fund for Excellence
UCLA Blue Gold Challenge
Hurricane Michael Aftermath
Buy a Van for Los Elegidos Ministry

Bobby Griffin Memorial Art Award

State of California State Charity Registration Number : CT0261209

Employer Identification Number : 47-7337739

Classified as Private Foundation 509 ( a)

Tax Exempt from Federal Income Tax Under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501 (c) (3)

Donors can deduct contributions under IRC Section 170

Bobby Griffin Memorial Art Award aka BGMAA is qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522

As a Tax Exempt Private Organization we are required to file from 990-PF Return of Private Foundation or Section 4847 (a) ( 1) Trust Treated as a Private Foundation Annually

Trust managed by JBGmg with separate trust account at Chase Bank