Jim Lea and Ramon Gomez can hardly fathom the lives that some of the underserved students in Summit and Wasatch Counties lead.

Many come from broken homes. Others have parents who don’t live in the country legally. They don’t have the money or the means to put themselves through college without help.

That’s where the Park City Board of Realtors’ philanthropic committee comes in. The group recently gave away $20,000 in scholarships to at-risk students at Park City High School, South Summit High School, North Summit High School and Wasatch High School.

Lea, president of the philanthropic committee, called the scholarships the focal point of the foundation. Gomez, the group’s treasurer, said it is “the most rewarding thing we do.”

“Many times, it brings tears to our eyes reading these (applications),” Gomez said. “And we have a tough time deciding who to give the money to, so we’re just thrilled that we have more money to give more. It’s one of the most satisfying things we do.”

The scholarships are based on need. The committee searches for applicants who are not receiving assistance elsewhere, or as Lea puts it, “somebody who has kind of been left behind.” The committee doesn’t have the names of the applicants, or their genders, and the primary criterion is simply who needs it the most.

For instance, one of the students, Jairo Talavera, from PCHS, struggled for years to learn English when he was a child. He eventually learned to read and write in the language and recently earned entrance into the Honors College at the University of Utah.

That’s just one example of what the applicants have had to overcome.

“The ones that really hit on the heartstrings are the ones that get it,” Lea said. “It’s a reality check for us.”

Gomez said it brings the real estate agents involved “back to Earth” and helps them realize that the area is socioeconomically diverse.

“These people need help and we’re just glad to be able to help them,” he said.

The scholarship program has grown over the years, and Lea and Gomez are hopeful that the philanthropic committee can give even more money next year as more real estate agents get involved.

“There are so many Realtors that are involved in non-profits and everything, which is great, but this is where we come together as a group and give to the community,” he said. “That feels good. That’s what it’s all about.”