DOWNEY – The Southeast Bruins hosted over 60 UCLA Alumni and friends in Downey on Wednesday, May 16, for an event that featured a tour of Porto’s. 
 
Betty Porto, of Porto’s Bakery, herself a UCLA alumna, was the featured special guest of the evening. After giving attendees an account of the Porto family history, she led guests through the Porto’s Bakery facility on a personal tour, where guests were treated to a special behind-the-scenes tour of the inner workings at the bakery.  

Guests were able to see Porto’s staff prepare orders and saw first-hand the state-of-the-art machinery that helps make Porto’s an industry leader. Ms. Porto ended the evening by providing a sampling of the newest items that Porto’s will be launching.

The fees collected at the event went to the UCLA Southeast Bruins Scholarship. The scholarship fund was launched last year, with the initial $4,000 scholarship award going to Jennifer Tang of Norwalk. Jennifer plans to major in Biology.

Asked what the scholarship means to her, Jennifer replied: "This scholarship means a lot to me as a student who comes from a low-income background. I was worried about costs and though financial aid from UCLA alumni donors, FAFSA, and UCLA itself, I was able to attend the college of my choice with a lessened burden on me or my family." 

The Southeast Bruins is currently raising funds to award its second recipient this fall and will be hosting a “Wine and Cheese” event at the Los Amigos Golf Course in Downey on Thursday, June 21, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at a cost of $30 per ticket that includes three wine tastings (two red and one white) and cheese.  

The Southeast Bruins is recognized officially as the regional chapter of the Alumni Association of the University of California, Los Angeles (known as “UCLA”), and is known officially as the UCLA Alumni Los Angeles Southeast Network.  It is open to alumni and friends who reside and/or work in the Southeast Los Angeles cities of Downey, Whittier, Cerritos, Montebello, Norwalk, South Gate, Pico Rivera, Huntington Park, Lynwood, Cudahy, and neighboring cities. 

For questions about the group or a specific event, or to donate to the scholarship fund, please contact Southeast Bruins President Ricardo Perez at rperez@alumni.ucla.edu.