A scholarship can change the future
When Roz Taylor received a Brouse Scholarship in the mid-1970s, it was a crucial stepping stone toward the completion of her education and the launch of a successful career. Decades later she would pay it forward by creating her own scholarship fund – at the very foundation that helped her pursue her degree.
The Brouse Scholarship for $2000 was offered to women at Riverside Community College pursuing a degree in business. With this financial support and a lot of tenacity, Roz became the first in her family of nine siblings and over 100 cousins to earn a college degree.
“I was working to support myself, and I don’t know what I would have done without the grants and scholarships I received,” Roz reflects. Coming from a family where neither parent had a high school diploma, the path to higher education wasn’t clearly marked. But her mother’s unwavering belief in education’s power pushed Roz forward.
It was at RCC where Roz’s life would change in unexpected ways. While taking a swim class, she caught the eye of Robert “Bob” Taylor, the pool’s lifeguard who would become her husband and partner in championing education. Like Roz, Robert understood education’s transformative power, and together they built a life centered on learning and giving back.
Perseverance: overcoming challenges together
Their journey was anything but easy. As a married student with a young child, Roz worked nights at a real estate school where she was allowed to bring her baby. Meanwhile, Robert attended law school in the evenings while working full-time during the day. Their schedules rarely overlapped, leaving little time together as they juggled multiple responsibilities.
Despite the challenges, they persevered, knowing education was their path to a better future. Roz transferred from RCC to UC Riverside, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Administrative Studies and went on to enjoy a successful 35-year career with the IRS.
Priorities: generosity and education
The Taylor Family
Robert Taylor became a highly respected attorney in Riverside, but his impact extended far beyond his legal practice. He served on school boards, including at St. Francis de Sales School, Notre Dame High School and the RCC Foundation, where he lived by his motto of “paying it forward.”
He was known for quietly helping others pursue their education, often writing checks for students’ entry fees, computers, or whatever they needed to succeed. Roz remembers, “He could see when someone needed help, and he would just write them a check and say, ‘Use it for whatever you need.'”
Robert and Roz created a home where education was a priority. That commitment bore fruit in their own family – all four children pursued higher education and went on to successful careers in fields ranging from aerospace engineering and epidemiology to automobile design and global marketing.
Paying it forward: the legacy
After her beloved husband’s passing in 2020, Roz knew she wanted to honor Robert’s memory and continue his legacy of helping others access education. Roz was referred to IECF by a family friend, Jim Cuevas, who is himself a donor and formerly served on the Foundation’s board of directors. To her surprise, Roz discovered that IECF provided her the scholarship she received decades before. Charles Brouse, IECF’s founder, established the Riverside Distribution Committee in 1941 to provide scholarships for local students at Riverside City College. This early initiative laid the groundwork for what would become IECF, and Roz was a direct beneficiary of Brouse’s vision and generosity.
This serendipitous connection convinced her that establishing a scholarship fund in Robert’s memory was the right path forward.
Today, the Robert B. Taylor Foundation Scholarship helps students at RCC pursue their educational dreams, continuing the cycle of giving that helped launch Roz’s own education. Since 2021, a scholarship has been provided to assist a low-income, underrepresented, or first generation student at RCC. Robert’s mission to pay it forward continues to live on.
In both 2017 and 2018, Robert completed the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage – a 500 mile walk from France to Spain. In a touching tribute to their father’s remarkable journey, the Taylor children will be participating in the Camino walk next month, covering 200 miles in his honor.
Friends, colleagues and family members have contributed to the fund through cash and stock donations, ensuring the Taylor’s commitment to education and paying it forward will impact generations to come. Roz looks forward to family conversations with her children as they become more involved in supporting and directing the fund.
“We were given opportunities,” Roz reflects, “and now it’s our turn to give those opportunities to others.” Through the scholarship fund, the Taylors’ legacy of education, perseverance, and generosity continues, creating pathways for future students to achieve their dreams just as Roz and Robert did.
For those considering their own legacy, Roz offers encouragement. “Starting a fund might seem overwhelming at first,” she says, “but IECF makes it achievable. They work with you to create something meaningful, something that reflects your values.”
We’re grateful for Roz and our generous family of donors who empower IECF’s work to create a region where everyone can thrive. To learn how you can create a lasting impact and help open doors for the next generation through a fund at IECF, contact our Charitable Giving Team at giving@iegives.org.
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