Edgar Rosales Jr.
Pay-It-Forward Awardee
After becoming homeless in 2023, Edgar, a 40‑year‑old student at Long Beach City College, founded Voz, a student group that amplifies the voices of unhoused and low‑income students at the college. His leadership helped destigmatize homelessness on campus and encouraged the college to strengthen its support systems and to take more compassionate, practical action toward addressing student housing insecurity, including through safe‑parking and basic‑needs programs.
Long Beach, California
December 9, 2025
Pay-It-Forward
Award
Awarded to:
Long Beach City College Foundation
Individual award recipients are not eligible for a grant, but can “pay it forward” by recommending a values-aligned organization to receive a grant. When an individual receives a “Pay It Forward” award, they are invited to recommend a grant to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in their community that is aligned with the values of the project. “Pay It Forward” recipients are typically awarded to one or several individuals for personal acts of courage








