TUCSON, Ariz. -- A local memorial foundation is hosting two events to raise money to give college scholarships to graduating seniors at Casino Del Sol.
The Victoria Teresa Arias Memorial Foundation is hosting its first annual A Very Victorious Golf Tournament on Friday and its second annual A Night to Remember Gala on Saturday.
The memorial foundation was started by Victoria Arias' parents after she passed away in July of 2017, right after graduating high school.
Arias parents found her at the bottom of her backyard pool and took her straight to the hospital. A couple of days later, she died.
Before her passing, Victoria received a $250,000 scholarship to St.Mary's University in Minnesota to study medicine. She wanted to be a surgeon.
"It was life changing for her, and it was life changing for us," Victoria's dad Michael Arias said. "To know that we weren't or she wasn't going to be experiencing any financial burden or setbacks as far as being able to go away and study and concentrate on that."
Since that scholarship meant everything to her, Michael Arias said he wanted to be able to help others the same way she was helped.
"We kept hearing from people, both young and old, it doesn't matter how much you give, but whatever you give is going to be a tremendous help," Arias said.
This year at their Night to Remember Gala, they plan to give out three scholarships.
Arias said him and his wife consider themselves Victoria's messengers, so they want to make sure her memory is never forgotten, by helping others the way she would have wanted.
