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Office Depot Foundation Application |
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Organizational Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Organization Name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hispanic College Fund Inc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Also Known As | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provide DBA or Common Name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hispanic College Fund (HCF) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Address | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1301 K. Street NW,
Suite 450A-W |
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| City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zip Code | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tax Status 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tax Status 1 Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 01, 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###-###-#### | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 202-527-0372 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fax | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###-###-#### | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 202-296-3774 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Please provide your organization's website address | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| http://www.hispanicfund.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Please identify your organization's executive director |
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| Prefix | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fernando | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barrueta | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CEO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| fbarrueta@hispanicfund.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office Phone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 202-296-5400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office Fax | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mission Statement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Hispanic College
Fund is a non-profit organization that provides Hispanic high school and
college students with the vision, resources, and mentorship needed to
become community leaders and achieve successful careers in business,
science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM). |
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Project Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Request Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 23, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Title | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 2010 Hispanic
Youth Institute |
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| Project Description | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PROGRAM
OVERVIEW This Hispanic Youth Institute, launched in 2004 in Fairfax, Virginia, is a jewel in Hispanic College Fund programming and the Fund's fastest-growing program. Through a community-based network of partners, alumni, volunteers and sponsors, the Hispanic Youth Institute works with underserved Hispanic high school students to educate and inspire them to achieve a college education; pursue a professional career in business, science, technology, engineering and math; and give back to their communities as leaders capable of affecting change. In 2010 the Hispanic Youth Institute will serve more than 1,400 students nationwide in a variety of communities: Albuquerque, Baltimore, Dallas, Fresno, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, and Washington, D.C. Beginning in the summer of 2010, the Fund will bring 150-200 rising sophomores and juniors from underserved high schools to a local college campus for a four-day, three-night summer residency that will present the students with: • Featured speakers who build self-confidence in the students' perceptions of their identity as Hispanics. • Small-group sessions with 40 Hispanic business and community leaders who share their personal stories of professional and personal success with the students. • Detailed college application sessions presented by college admission officers from a variety of schools. • Competitions that result in the awarding of $14,000 in scholarships. • "Issues to Action" sessions where students identify pressing issues facing their community and develop plans to affect change. The winning presentation will be awarded a cash scholarship from Youth Venture. • Career workshops presented by industry leaders in business, science, technology, engineering and math. • Instructions on professional networking skills with business cards distributed to all students. • A college and career fair with 25-50 booths featuring colleges, universities, and corporations. In delivering the symposium, 150-200 community volunteers (including Office Depot staff members) will be engaged to assist with everything from logistics coordination to competition judging. Additionally, 20 college student resident advisors (RAs) will be recruited to manage 8-member student "familias" -- small groupings of the students who will live and work together over the course of the program. The RAs will become mentors to their student "familias", often acting as near-peer advisors to the students for many years after the event. Following the symposium, in order to ensure that the students continue to receive the support and education they need to pursue their college and career aspirations, the symposium alumni will be ushered into a year-long program of support called the Hispanic Youth Institute. With the assistance of guest speakers, volunteers, and community partners, the Hispanic Youth Institute will guide the symposium alumni to form clubs and participate in ongoing events in the 2010-2011 school year in order to nurture the students' interest in college preparation, career exploration, and community involvement. The 2010 Hispanic Youth Institute calendar is as follows. (This calendar is subject to change; however, the themes around which the program revolves will be consistent with the content described.) June-August/The 2010 Hispanic Youth Symposia will be on 8 university campuses nationwide. The students will then return to their communities. September/Issues to Action -- Students will be engaged to create social change by working with one another in groups formed at the Hispanic Youth Symposia. October/Hispanic Heroes -- Students will be encouraged to find a mentor as well as to be a mentor to other students in their school. November/Paying for College* -- Students and their families will be presented with clear information about how a college education is financed. December/Make a Difference* - Students will be exposed to the importance of community and civic engagement. January/Foundations for Personal Success* - Students will be provided with leadership and life skills to succeed in college and their career. February & March/Realizing the College Dream -- Students will be guided through the college application process, with practice writing application essays, information disseminated about the FAFSA, etc. April/Making It Happen Career Workshops* - Students will be exposed to careers in business, science, technology, engineering, and math. May/Individual Development Plan -- Students will review the personal development plan they wrote at the symposium and update it as needed. *Hispanic Youth Institute members will be encouraged to recruit their peers to these activities, allowing for greater community impact while serving as a recruitment tool for future symposia attendees. TARGET AUDIENCE The Hispanic College Fund will reach out to students who meet the following criteria: • Have a minimum 2.5 GPA • Are Hispanic or identify with Hispanic culture • Are rising sophomores or juniors in high school • Are residents of a designated region or attendees of specified high schools Students who meet these criteria and want to attend will be asked to complete an online application (with an essay), be recommended by a teacher or counselor, and submit a $10.00 commitment fee (which can be waived upon request). COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS The Fund works closely with community partners in the regions it serves to ensure that the program is tailored to community needs. Partners include local school districts (such as the Eastside Union School District in San Jose and the Phoenix Union School District in Arizona), governments (such as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Partnership for LA Schools), universities (such as Southern Methodist University in Dallas), and nonprofits (such as New Mexico MESA and the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium in Fresno, CA). SPONSORS The Hispanic College Fund raises national and local funds annually to support the program. 2009 sponsors include Bank of America, The Walt Disney Company, Southwest Airlines, Wells Fargo, Los Alamos National Labs, the Social Security Administration, the National Nuclear Security Administration, Kaiser Permanente, and many others. EVALUATIONS AND OUTCOMES The short-term impact of the Hispanic Youth Symposium is currently evaluated with pre- and post-symposium evaluations. The long-term impact of the Institute is measured with annual electronic surveys that track the students' college and career pathways, as well as their levels of community involvement. Multi-generational contact information is also collected on each student to allow for future in-depth qualitative follow-ups. Based on results from previous symposia, the Fund expects to see the following outcomes: SHORT-TERM Objective #1: Increase students' confidence in their ability to achieve a college education and professional career. 90% will agree that they have the academic background to succeed in college. 95% will agree with the statement "I am going to college." 80% will report that they intend to pursue a graduate degree. Objective #2: Improve students' understanding of the necessary steps for college application and financial aid. 90% will report an understanding of the college application and selection process. 80% will report that they plan on applying to 3 or more colleges. 90% will report an understanding of the FAFSA. 90% will report an understanding of how to search and apply for scholarships. 80% will report an understanding of work study programs on campus. Objective #3: Establish a network of mentors and role models for the students. 90% will report that they have a mentor or positive role model. Objective #4: Establish a comfort level/familiarity with life on a college campus. 90% will report they have the social skills to succeed in college. Objective #5: Establish a network of like-minded peers who also want to achieve a college education and professional career. 95% will report they have a large group of family and friends who support their success. Objective #6: Instill an understanding of the importance of community service and leadership. 90% will say they are confident in their ability to identify and research community issues. 70% will say they are confident in their ability to speak publicly. 95% will say they are confident in their ability to make a difference in their community. 90% will say they are confident in their ability to volunteer in leadership positions. Objective #7: Instill an understanding of career options in the business, science, technology, engineering, and math arenas. 60% will report an understanding of careers in business or finance. 60% will report an understanding of careers in science, technology, engineering and math. 80% will report an understanding of how to interview for a job or internship opportunity. 35% will report an interest in a career in business or finance. 40% will report an interest in a career in health care. 25% will report an interest in a career in science or biotechnology. 20% will report an interest in a career in law. 20% will report an interest in a career in engineering. LONG-TERM Objective #1: Increase the number of students who graduate from a four-year college or university. 75% of Hispanic Youth Symposium alumni will achieve a bachelor's degree within 6 years of graduating from high school Objective #2: Increase the number of students who pursue careers in business, law, medicine, or STEM. 75% of Hispanic Youth Symposium alumni will pursue careers in business, law, medicine, or STEM. Objective #3: Increase the number of students who serve as volunteers and leaders in their communities. 65% of Hispanic Youth Symposium alumni will report that they have volunteered at least 4 hours/month in the previous 6 months. STATEMENT OF NEED AND RESEARCH FINDINGS In 2007, according to analysis by the Pew Hispanic Center, only 13% of Hispanics in the U.S. had a college degree -- the lowest rate of any group in America - compared to 31% of White Non-Hispanics, 17% of African Americans, and 50% of Asian Americans. Researchers have tried to identify the reasons for this. In 2002 the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI) reported that the greatest barrier to Hispanic college achievement was a lack of "college knowledge," an understanding of the milestones and prerequisites needed in order to prepare for college. When asked to decipher the difference between an associate or bachelor degree, for example, or to define what an "AP" course was, Hispanic families scored poorly. A follow-up study by TRPI analyzed the "college financial knowledge" of Hispanic families and found that understanding of the college financing process significantly impacted Hispanic college achievement. 75% of the study respondents reported that they would have been more likely to attend college had they been exposed to better information about financial aid. 43% of Hispanic young adults could not name a single source of financial aid. That same study also found that 94% of Hispanic students and parents rated having a college education as "very important." This was a greater percentage than any other group surveyed. Although Hispanic families had tremendous educational aspirations for their children, they had a very limited understanding of the college preparatory or achievement process. A 2005 study by Patricia Gandara found that high-achieving Hispanic students were "much more likely than high-achieving White students to have parents with very low education levels," and that those parents were often ill-equipped to support their students as they navigated the high school-to-college pipeline. In order to encourage college achievement, therefore, Gandara recommended that students be provided with a supportive network of adults such as "teachers, counselors, mentors and others in the school or community." The Hispanic Youth Institute succeeds in raising its students' college and career trajectories because the curriculum lays out, in culturally-relevant language, the basics of the college preparation and application process; demystifies the college financing process; and connects the students to a supportive network of adults who share similar experiences. The result is an alumni group that is prepared to apply to a variety of challenging schools (and in most cases achieve a graduate degree), pursue a professional career, and give back to their communities as volunteers and leaders. BUDGET Program costs are projected to average $175,000 per community. BENEFITS FOR SUPPORTERS The Hispanic College Fund respectfully requests a grant of $10,000 to support the Hispanic Youth Institute in two communities of the Foundation's choice. (The Foundation may choose from Albuquerque, Baltimore, Dallas, Fresno, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, and Washington D.C.) This grant will underwrite the direct costs of room, board and supplies for 37 high-need students. In gratitude for its gift, the Office Depot Foundation will receive information about the 37 students it has supported, along with thank you notes from the students whose lives have been changed by the donation. Additionally, in appreciation for this gift, the Hispanic College Fund will provide the Office Depot Foundation with a number of benefits that include: 1) Recognition online, in press releases, and in all materials relating to the program as a supporter at the $10,000 level. Press releases will be distributed regularly to Hispanic College Fund stakeholders as well as through the lists of our national partners. 2) The Foundation's logo on two regional Hispanic Youth Symposium websites (www.hispanicyouth.org) as a sponsor at the $10,000 level. 3) Employee and intern recruiting opportunities as an exhibitor in the college and career fair. 4) The opportunity to engage employees as volunteers for the program. 5) Ongoing sponsor recognition in all pertinent materials related to the Hispanic Youth Institute through May 2010. 6) Recognition at the Hispanic College Fund Annual Scholarships Award Gala in October 2009 in Washington, DC. This gala is attended by over 500 stakeholders in the education, policymaking, and business community. 7) The Office Depot Foundation logo on the Hispanic College Fund (www.hispanicfund.org) website as a $10,000 Hispanic College Fund sponsor. 8) National promotion of the Mary Wong "Follow Your Dream" Educational Assistance Fund in the national HCF newsletter, which reaches 135,000 Hispanic students nationwide. Additionally, the Hispanic College Fund would welcome the opportunity to discuss additional partnership opportunities with the Foundation as fits the Foundation's needs. ABOUT THE HISPANIC COLLEGE FUND The Hispanic College Fund is a non-profit organization that provides Hispanic high school and college students with the vision, resources, and mentorship needed to become community leaders and achieve successful careers in business, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Every year the Fund awards $2 million in scholarships to more than 600 deserving students for undergraduate and graduate study. The majority of scholarships that are awarded are for studies in business and STEM. Winning students must demonstrate financial need and academic merit. In addition to its scholarship program, the Hispanic College Fund operates the annual Hispanic Youth Institute in communities nationwide; disseminates a career newsletter; runs a professional internship placement program and a young professionals program; and hosts a number of fundraising events including golf tournaments and an annual gala dinner. The Hispanic College Fund has an annual budget of $6 million with 20 full-time employees. In 2006 the Hispanic College Fund received the Brillante award for "Nonprofit of the Year" from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and in 2007 was recognized by USA Today as one of the nation's top 25 charities. |
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| Request Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $10,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Budget | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $1,400,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Start Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 01, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project End Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 01, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Program Area | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education-High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geographical Area Served | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona California District of Columbia New Mexico Texas |
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| Population Served | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Please indicate the primary contact for this project. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prefix | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ms. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kathryn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grady | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Western States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| kgrady@hispanicfund.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office Phone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (202) 527-0372 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office Fax | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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