Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to Speak at the 15th Annual Hispanic College Fund Scholarship Awards Gala

The 15th Annual Scholarship Awards Gala has sold more than 500 seats for its annual fundraising dinner, which will be held on Friday, October 17 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C.  New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is serving as honorary chairman.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine will address the audience and introduce the evening’s keynote speaker, a 2008 Hispanic College Fund Scholar.

“This past summer, students across the Commonwealth had the opportunity to participate in two Hispanic Youth Symposiums held at George Mason University and the University of Richmond,” said Governor Kaine.  “The remarkable work the Hispanic College Fund is doing to help develop the next generation of Latino professionals will continue to strengthen the social fabric of our communities.  I look forward to attending this year’s gala and interacting with all the students who continuously show commitment by investing in their education.”

In addition to celebrating more than 600 winners of the 2008 Hispanic College Fund scholarships, the gala will honor Sodexo as Corporation of the Year and will present the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with the Legacy Award for its upstanding commitment to promoting diversity in the U.S. workforce.

“We are really thrilled with the community’s response,” said Hispanic College Fund Chief Development Officer, Ingrid Embree.  “The monies we raise through this dinner allow us to provide the personalized student support for which the Fund is known.

“Through our newsletter we are able to provide scholarship and internship opportunities to 130,000 students.  Through our programs we are able to impact more than 1,000 high school students and 1,000 volunteers from across the country on an annual basis.

“Our students know that we are always just a phone call or email away with advice about college preparation and career achievement.  This dinner helps fund that very direct kind of support.”

In 2008 the Hispanic College Fund awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to 600 Hispanic high school and college students.  Winners were selected from a pool of more than 40,000 applications based on academic achievement, financial need, and application merit.

More than 80 percent of Hispanic College Fund scholarships are for studies in business, science, technology, engineering, or math – the major focus areas of the Fund.

A number of students will be in attendance at the dinner.

“Having the students in attendance makes the dinner really special,” said Idalia Fernandez, president of the Hispanic College Fund. “Once people come to one of our events, they get hooked because it’s such a feel-good event.  Not only that, but the dinner has become a hot recruiting ground for our sponsors!  It’s really a lot of fun for everyone.”

Last-minute tickets and tables are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  For more information, please contact Vicmar Morales at (202) 296-5400 or vicmar@hispanicfund.org.

About the Hispanic College Fund
Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a nonprofit 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.

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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