Bridge 2 College Empowers Academically Gifted, Underserved Students to Pursue College Education

Bridge 2 College was inspired by Johnny Baltierra’s tumultuous upbringing, leading him to pose the question, “how do I change the lives of kids like me?” 

Baltierra was born in Mexicali, Mexico and grew up in Fresno, without a father and a not-so-fatherly stepfather. At 17 he had a child with his now wife, Susan. He and Susan started from humble beginnings, navigating being young parents while simultaneously working to achieve their educational and career goals. Baltierra worked as a school counselor for 25 years, and Susan became a nurse. He credits his father-in-law for pushing him to excel in life. “It’s by the grace of God, that we made it,” Baltierra said. His experience navigating parenthood and establishing his professional life led him to write “A Teen Father’s Story,” detailing his personal journey of teen parenthood and how he was able to become a dedicated father. Founded in 2018, Bridge 2 College plays an instrumental role in the successful futures of high school students across the Central Valley. The organization aims to provide scholarships and educational resources for low-income, high-achieving high school seniors. “I want to see everybody, in our program, go to college,” Baltierra said. “I love these high school kids that are economically disadvantaged and have grit and determination.”  

The Bridge 2 College scholarship requires students to have a GPA of at least 3.5, a household income of less than $80,000, be a first-generation college prospect, and meet college application deadlines. Bridge 2 College hosts an annual scholarship dinner in May each year to recognize its 21 scholarship recipients and award $1,000 to each honoree. Since its inception, Bridge 2 College has provided 120 scholarships to students across the Central Valley, enabling them to enroll at schools across California and beyond, including Fresno State, UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, Columbia, and Baylor. 

In addition, Bridge 2 College hosts monthly workshops at Fresno City College for participating students to learn skills they may not acquire in school. Starting as freshmen, these students are presented with knowledge and resources on financial literacy, career assessment, social emotional learning, and more. Baltierra also organizes college tours to inspire students to advance their academic futures. “When students go to a campus, I want them to say, ‘I belong at this school,’” Baltierra said.  

Thanks to word-of-mouth and Baltierra’s gift for fundraising, the Bridge 2 College program has expanded to serve students from multiple districts across Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties. “Everything I raise is for our students,” Baltierra said. 

The Bridge 2 College program provides more than academic achievement support; it is a lifeline for students’ overall well-being. Baltierra recalls a student recipient calling him to request $1,000 after her and her family were evicted from their home and needed rent money for their new living accommodations. She immediately wanted to figure out how to reimburse Baltierra. He told her, “You know how you’re going to pay me back, stay at Fresno City College and earn your associate’s degree and transfer to a four-year university.”  

To volunteer or purchase ticket(s) for the seventh annual scholarship dinner on Saturday, May 30, 2026, please email: bridgetwocollege@gmail.com. For more information on how you can support local educational organizations, please contact Senior Philanthropy Officer Caty Perez at Caty@centralvalleycf.org or 559-226-5600.