The gift, the largest of its kind in SDCCD history, builds upon Frey’s earlier $600,000 contribution and marks the first major donation toward a new $12-million endowment campaign that will permanently sustain the SDCCD’s Ready2Work program. Established in 2024, Ready2Work benefits healthcare students at the SDCCD’s four colleges — San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges — by reimbursing them for required licensing, certification, and testing expenses, removing financial barriers to in-demand careers.
“For all of the students who have sacrificed so much to earn their degrees, I hope this gift will remove their last obstacle to achieving new and rewarding careers,” said Frey, a longtime SDCCD supporter who also has been instrumental in building the district’s tuition-free San Diego Promise program.
According to district data, the more than 1,100 students currently enrolled in various healthcare programs — including the Emergency Medical Technician program at Miramar College, the Neurodiagnostic Technician program at Mesa College, the Nursing program at City College, and the Certified Nursing Assistant program at College of Continuing Education, among others — are set to spend a combined total of $526,631 on licensing exams alone, or nearly $500 per person on average, this academic year. Some are spending more than twice that amount.
Patricia Santos, who completed her associate of science degree from Mesa College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in 2024, credits the fee reimbursement for making her licensure exam (a $1,050 cost) possible.
“I am truly grateful to the donors who made it possible for me to pay for my licensure exam fees,” Santos said. “I am excited to contribute to the field of physical therapy and make a meaningful impact on the lives of my patients, as well as give back to the community.”
Said SDCCD Chancellor Gregory Smith: “The Ready2Work Program is a powerful example of how philanthropy can change student outcomes. Our students were completing degrees and certificates in high-demand, workforce-oriented health programs, but for too many, the high cost of testing, fingerprinting, background checks, and state licensing certificates prevented them from starting their new career for months or years after graduation. Roger immediately recognized the opportunity to intervene and help.”
Frey noted it’s not just students benefitting from Ready2Work but the greater San Diego region, as well.
“For the students, the Ready2 Work program helps them obtain the licenses needed to achieve their professional goals,” he said. “For the rest of us, the program strengthens the medical infrastructure we all depend upon.”