LUL & HCF Partnering in Support of Hispanic Youth Symposia

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Thursday, July 24, 2008 (0 Comments)
Posted by: George Laws Garcia

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: George Laws García, La Unidad Latina (773) 454-6925, communityservice@launidadlatina.org

Lisa Sandoval, Hispanic College Fund

(202) 296-5400, lsandoval@hispanicfund.org

Hispanic College Fund & La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. to Launch Partnership to Help Latino Youth Succeed and Pursue Higher Education

July 24, 2008—WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Hispanic College Fund (HCF) and La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. (LUL) today publicly announced the official establishment of a strategic partnership between their respective organizations. The partnership will seek to increase the number of Latino youth pursuing higher education by improving access to information, support networks, and role models.

LUL and HCF will partner on multiple community service programs that present excellent opportunities for the Hermanos [Brothers] of LUL to become directly involved in furthering the educational opportunities available to Hispanic students in our communities and across the nation. By collaborating on programs such as the Hispanic Youth Symposium and the HCF Scholarship Selection Committee while sharing resources and volunteers, both organizations will work toward achieving a common set of goals. This summer over 20 LUL Hermanos are volunteering at the ongoing Hispanic Youth Symposia being held by HCF in Fairfax, VA; Richmond, VA; Towson, MD; and Washington, D.C.

“In many cases our Hermanos come from similar backgrounds and have overcome challenges similar to those confronting the students that HCF serves, so our presence in these programs will allow students to relate to their potential mentors. We realize that as college-educated Latinos and professionals we have the capacity to encourage and support these students, particularly the many young Latinos whose chance of getting a university degree is currently well below the national average. With this partnership we want to help students to not only think about going to college and getting a degree, but also about how they may use those experiences to become involved in helping their community and society at large," said George Laws García, LUL's National Director of Community Service.

Given the alarming number of Latino high school students who are dropping out of school (more than 40 % according to the Alliance for Excellent Education) and who are under-prepared for higher education, this partnership will work to target those students who have high potential yet lack the support system necessary to succeed. The importance of this unique and innovative partnership lies in its capacity to connect Hispanic youth to an existing pipeline of academically and professionally accomplished individuals who are interested in helping these youth succeed.

“HCF believes that our partnership with LUL will help encourage Latino students to go to college because the students will be able to see beyond the significant financial and personal sacrifices, such as being away from their family and other close social circles, in order to focus on the ultimate goal of receiving an excellent education,” said George Cushman, Senior Vice President of Programs at the Hispanic College Fund. “Through our programs, students put themselves on a career track and gain a network of lifelong friends and mentors. Whether or not students are interested in joining a fraternity or sorority, the participation of LUL’s Hermanos shows our students that there is more to campus life than books and classrooms, and that their time in college can also be a time to connect with their Latino cultural heritage while being of service to others in their community.”

Given the burgeoning growth of the Latino population in the U.S. and consequent importance of creating an educated Latino workforce, the partnership between LUL and HCF reflects a powerful effort to increase high school and college graduation rates among Latinos. HCF and LUL will also work to ensure that students make a successful transition from college to career.

“HYS programs are truly life changing events for these students. There is no better way for us to fulfill our fraternal goals than by participating in these programs as volunteers and mentors,” said Manny Ruiz an LUL Hermano from the University of Maryland who recently volunteered as Lead Resident Assistant for the Richmond Symposium and as Resident Assistant for the Maryland Symposium. “It makes me proud to see so many Hermanos participating in these programs. These past two weeks have left a great mark upon me and I will try to become more involved with these programs in the future. I encourage all Bros to participate in the HYS! You will love the experience!”

LUL and HCF first established a relationship in 2006 when fraternity brothers became involved with the Hispanic Youth Symposium program as part of a regional community service. Since then Hermanos have volunteered in several Hispanic Youth Symposia and as part of HCF’s Scholarship Selection Committee. Last February La Unidad Latina and the Hispanic College Fund solidified their growing relationship into a partnership, and revealed it internally to Hermanos and guests at LUL’s 26th Anniversary Gala.

The long-term success of the U.S. in the global economy will be significantly impacted by the level of education and professional preparation of its citizens, particularly among the Latino community. LUL and HCF recognize their partnership as a step forward in ensuring that the Hispanic community is ready to help America and the world take on the challenges of the 21st Century.

About La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.
Established in 1982 at Cornell University, LUL is a national Latino based multi-ethnic Fraternity focused on addressing the needs of Latino students in higher education. As the first Latino based Fraternity to be founded at an Ivy League institution, LUL seeks to take a leadership role in empowering the Latino community by raising cultural awareness, promoting community service, and supporting academic and professional development. Through its 26 year history LUL has developed a network of over 60 Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters that extends from coast to coast, and which functions to connect a community of high achieving students with role models for professional and personal development. Our goals are to make sure that our members graduate and find positive and lasting ways to give back to their communities and society at large through their professional, social and civic engagement.

Website: www.launidadlatina.org.

About Hispanic College Fund
Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals. For 15 years HCF has provided scholarships and, since its founding, has incorporated internship and mentoring programs for students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The result is a career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics who are trained in the fields of business, science, technology, 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.

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

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