Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: The Maria Manetti Shrem Scholarship Fund

We are thrilled to announce the Maria Manetti Shrem Scholarship Fund, made possible through generous seed funding by Maria Manetti Shrem. This scholarship initiative is ground-breaking at Global Sojourns Giving Circle, building on our years of supporting mentoring programs that emphasize education and wider opportunities that will empower young women in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

We are grateful for Maria Manetti Shrem’s commitment to education and creating pathways out of poverty for young women in communities we serve. Her generosity has functioned as a catalyst to enable GSGC to award scholarships to seven deserving young women in Zimbabwe and Zambia, marking a significant step towards greater gender equality, economic sustainability and community development in the region.

Maria Manetti portrait by J. Henry Fair

Maria’s remarkable journey, from a girl with limited educational opportunities in Florence, Italy after World War II to a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, speaks to the transformative power of education and mentorship. Her story resonates with our young women serving as a reminder of what is possible.

Maria’s path was shaped by pivotal figures such as her uncle “zio Marcello” from Sicily, whose insistence on education guided her family, even during financial challenges. Her mother worked as an in-home nurse to help provide for her family. Maria was dedicated to raising money for her education, and her hard work, coupled with the guidance of her Sicilian tutor and mentor Maestra Flora, accelerated her education significantly. The mentorship was invaluable, Maria said, because it instilled in her a profound appreciation for the transformative power of support and opportunities — an awareness she has carried with gratitude throughout her life.

Long-time philanthropists Maria Manetti Shrem and her husband, Jan Shrem, support approximately 50 arts and educational charitable programs through 30 foundations in the United States, Italy and United Kingdom. In the US, they include the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and, in California, the University of California at Davis, San Francisco Opera, Festival Napa Valley, University of California San Francisco Neurology Center and the Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem Cardiovascular Fellowship Program at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. In Europe, their support extends to many prestigious institutions such as The King’s Foundation, Royal Drawing School and Andrea Bocelli Foundation with which she has supported construction of four schools, including one named for her at Meyer Children Hospital in Florence. Maria has been the recipient of several significant awards and recognitions for her outstanding contributions to philanthropy and cultural diplomacy.

The program will enable the education of more of our alumni, like Evelyn, who graduated as a qualified teacher in Zambia

The Maria Manetti Shrem Scholarship Fund not only provides tuition for higher education, but also emphasizes programs in mentorship, leadership development and environmental awareness. By investing in these young scholars, Maria and we are nurturing future leaders who will contribute to their communities and drive sustainable change.

This scholarship fund is akin to a bee, a vital pollinator that enables the blossoming of potential. At GSGC, we deeply appreciate this partnership, this is a crucial steppingstone for these young women. Maria’s own journey exemplifies the immense impact of belief, mentorship and opportunity.