By Jennifer Holzapfel-Hanson
Sometimes a small gesture — a moment of generosity — makes a lasting impact. At the Multnomah Athletic Foundation (MAF), these moments happen every day, often sparked by something as simple as a $25 donation. For MAC members, this modest gift during the annual fund drive is more than just financial. It’s an investment in dreams, ambition and the unwavering spirit of young athletes like Fernanda Rodriguez.
Fernanda’s journey began in East Portland, raised by immigrant parents who came to the U.S. from Mexico City when she was just two. A first-generation student, she discovered swimming through free summer programs at her community pool. At the time, it was just something fun to do.
“I fell in love with swimming, and I was good at it,” Fernanda says. Her talent didn’t go unnoticed. Jim Bowe, the coach who would later lead the swim team at David Douglas High School, saw her potential. “He remembered me from those summer lessons when I was six,” she recalls. “He believed in me.”
As a sophomore, Fernanda was nominated by Coach Bowe to become a MAC Scholar Athlete — her first introduction to the Foundation’s community of support.
With his guidance, she became a standout swimmer. But talent wasn’t enough. As high school progressed, the financial strain of team fees and preparing for college became overwhelming. “I was DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival), so I didn’t apply for federal aid. My family struggled financially and I needed to rely solely on private scholarships,” she says. “I just wanted to get through my first year — if funding didn’t work out, I’d go to community college.”
A Gift for the Future
In her senior year, Fernanda was accepted at Oregon State University and received the Loprinzi Scholarship from the Foundation to help pay for it.
The Loprinzi Scholarship supports student-athletes from 30 high schools in the Portland metro area. Each school nominates one finalist for a $1,000 award. From those finalists, three are selected to receive the full Loprinzi Scholarship: $10,000 disbursed over two years. The award honors Joe Loprinzi, a beloved MAC fitness instructor remembered for inspiring others through fitness and community service. Scholarship recipients reflect his legacy through their athletic, academic and volunteer achievements.
After her first year swimming at OSU, Fernanda earned a full-ride athletic scholarship from the university. “The Foundation gave me a chance,” she says. “That first year opened the door to my future.”
She swam competitively for two years, until OSU abruptly ended its entire swimming program due to budget cuts. Though the university honored her remaining scholarship, the loss of the swim team was devastating for Fernanda. “It was an identity crisis,” she admits. But instead of letting it define her, she adapted and found new directions.
“Swimming taught me how to set goals, how to reach them, how to accept failure and build from that. It gave me structure, discipline, and knowing how to get in the grind and be comfortable with the uncomfortable,” she says.
Fernanda graduated from OSU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, then completed a nursing degree at OHSU. Today, at 26, she’s a full-time neurosurgery nurse at OHSU.
A Legacy of Giving Back
Fernanda’s connection to the Foundation didn’t end with her scholarship. For the past three years, she has given back by volunteering as a reviewer on a scholarship review team. She looks for more than just strong academics.
“I want to see their work ethic,” she says. “What are students doing with their time? Have they set goals, and are they actively working toward them?”
She especially watches for students who may need a little extra boost. “Sometimes $2K to $10K is just enough to get them through their first year. That first year is so important. It gives them the opportunity to find more financial help to keep going.”
That support often starts with as little as $25.
Every donation helps fund scholarships to close the financial gap for student-athletes. Together, these contributions build a base of opportunity for students facing rising tuition and limited access to aid.
When she looks at the applications now, Fernanda thinks about how that one scholarship didn’t just pay for her tuition — it confirmed that people believed in her, she explains.
That belief is what the Foundation powered by MAC members is all about: giving student-athletes the resources to grow, thrive and dream bigger. It’s about building a community where no goal is too ambitious and no background too humble.
Fernanda’s story is proof of what’s possible when a community comes together. It’s a story of perseverance, transformation and gratitude — and of how one small act, like a $25 gift, can ripple outward.
Today, Fernanda is still moving — training for triathlons, lifting weights and making a difference every day in her patients’ lives. Though she’s no longer swimming competitively, the discipline and drive she learned through sport and support continue to impact her.
“I consider myself a very hard worker,” she says. “I feel competent in my field, and all of that comes from having a good base.”
To any MAC member or donor who’s ever wondered whether $25 makes a difference, Fernanda’s story is your answer. Yes, it does — and it continues to do so.
Published in the July 2025 issue of The Winged M Magazine.