South Texas Promotoras Receive Donation From Texas Valley Communities Foundation
by Oscar Garza

EDINBURG, TX - Excitement filled the air Monday morning February 15, 2010 at the ENCORE headquarters right before United States Congressman Ruben Hinojosa took the podium to speak about the importance of higher learning, funding for education and even about his own experiences fighting for equal opportunity in education. The audience, comprised by prominent members of our community, including State Representative officials from districts 40 and 41, and members of the Hinojosa family, received the speakers with warmth and commendation.

The event centered on the $10 thousand dollar check donated to the South Texas Promotoras Association by the Texas Valley Communities Foundation. The Promotoras are grassroots-centered and focus on education and community health. Such a donation reinforced the coalition and efforts between TVCF and The South Texas Promotoras Association for educational advancement in the Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Roland S. Arriola, president of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation, expressed his sincerity with his opening remarks, "We are always exited when we are going to give away money. The Texas Valley Communities Foundation has given away almost 200k dollars. We made sure that there was enough money in our grants, from the Houston Endowment and the Bill and Lynda Gates Foundation, to help non-profit organizations like the Promotoras Association and others throughout the RGV, because we know they need the resources."

Dr. Arriola also spoke about how 7000 students drop out from high school everyday in America. He stated, "It is a dropout crisis, and here in the Valley, some schools even have a 50 percent dropout rate. It's a terrible situation for our kids." He then introduced Ruben Hinojosa as the greatest friend of education in America, and asked him to share a few words concerning his efforts.

The U.S. Congressman, very modestly, spoke in mostly Spanish, discussed about the overall growth of higher learning in our community. He spoke about how a high school graduate earns about half of what a college graduate earns in their lifetime, which is about $1 million. Also, he mentioned how many programs are now available to pay for most of our children's education. He stated, "Quiero hablar con ustedes sobre como es que sus hijos, y aquellos que ustedes van ayudar como Promotoras, pueden tener la misma oportunidad que ahora estamos viedno en la comunidad Latina," referring to how many students now are attaining advanced degrees, including doctoral degrees. The Congressman concluded with an inspiring notion of how our children, if educated, can grow up to be astronauts, professors, scientists that discover the cure for cancer and teachers that will give our grandchildren a first class education.

Merida Escobar, President of the South Texas Promotora Assocation, spoke about their efforts of going out to the community, knocking on doors at colonias and helping drop out students go back to school. She specifically spoke about students and mothers that went through hardship, including a single mother raising four children. Escobar stated how the mother's oldest son did well in school, but was working at a pawn shop not knowing he qualified for grants and even room on board for college. Escobar concluded with this, "We would like to thank the Texas Valley Community Foundation, Dr. Arriola and Congressman Ruben Hinojosa for their support, with these 10 thousand dollars, we will make a miracle."

For information on getting involved with The South Texas Promotoras Association please contact stpa09@sbcglobal.net. To know more about the Texas Valley Community Foundation and its programs such as Engaging Communities for College Readiness (ENCORE) please visit www.tvcof.org and www.getencore.org.