About Us
Create opportunities for students and set their steps for success everyday.
The Coptic Educational Foundation (CEF) is a non-profit organization established in 2002 to empower students to pursue higher education utilizing the appropriate resources, guidance and tools to reach their academic and professional potential.
About Our Founders
Nabih Youssef
Nabih was a renowned structural engineer who built his career and went on to open his own firm, Nabih Youssef & Associates (NYA).
He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Cairo University in Civil Engineering, a master’s degree from California State University Los Angeles in Structural and Seismic Engineering, and a postgraduate diploma in Earthquake Engineering from the University of California Los Angeles.
Nabih was widely recognized for his expertise in earthquake engineering, particularly for his pioneering use of base isolation to seismically protect structures.
He was a frequent guest lecturer at the USC School of Architecture and participated in various industry and governmental panels, including the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.
Beyond his professional achievements, Nabih was deeply dedicated to his community. Together with his brother Cherif, he founded the Coptic Educational Foundation (CEF) to support and sustain students in obtaining a higher education by providing them with the tools, guidance, and resources to realize their full academic potential.
Cherif Youssef
Cherif had a tenured career with 43 years of service at Southern California Gas, where he held various positions in marketing, research, and development. He was employed as a Technical Energy Consultant for the Natural Gas Industry.
Cherif earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Cairo University and West Coast University and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
In 2002, with his brother Nabih, they founded the Coptic Educational Foundation (CEF), a non-profit organization. They had one goal in mind, to support and sustain students in obtaining a higher education by offering them the tools, guidance, and resources to realize their full academic potential. The brothers thrived to aid students to gain college acceptance, reinforce their efforts and commitment to higher education, acknowledge students who have achieved academic excellence and community activism and reward them with annual scholarships.
Cherif had always been a firm believer in the call to re-energize and re-invent. He lived by the motto “strive to leave every place better than you found it,” and the way he achieved this was to assemble an efficient team who shared the same vision. Therefore, as the Chief Operating Officer of CEF, Cherif worked tirelessly to make sure that CEF volunteers and employees supported CEF’s mission to the fullest.
Our Values
Together
Program Leaders/Mentors and Students: A constant pursuit of excellence and a deep sense of pride in what we do, how we do it, who we do it for and how they apply it.
Passionate
Dedicated and Diligent: An ethos of support and openness that respects diversity, facilitates communication and makes collaboration constructive.
Successful
Celebrating and Prompting: A celebration environment to commemorate achievements and success.
CEF is proudly a
Guidestar Platinum Transparency Organization
Guidestar profiles give donors detailed information about an organization, aiding them in their search for trusted organizations. A Gold seal on a profile denotes a higher level of transparency, including comprehensive details about finances, Board of Directors, staff and overall demographics.
“With the support from CEF, we have been able to serve our students better than ever.”
— His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion
Find a Mentor
CEF has mentors at Coptic Orthodox churches across Southern California, so help is always accessible when you need it.
Our Partners
