Texas Border Project
VAMOS receives $47.5,000 from the Rio South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation (RSTEF)
Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development (RSTEF) has awarded VAMOS $47,500 for higher education and workforce development.
Vamos secured funding for RSTEF, strengthened its scholarship program and provided renewal scholarships to current students. The initiative focuses on supporting first generation students, primarily from low-income backgrounds, and helping them provide equitable opportunities for these students. Funds match on a one-on-one basis with the organization’s annual golf tournament revenues.
Students usually come from first generation and low-income households. There, financial constraints often force immediate income to prioritize long-term educational goals. As a result, many students enter the workforce right after high school. In many cases, low-paid, unskilled jobs will perpetuate the cycle of poverty. These students face limited career prospects and contribute to rising unemployment and unemployment rates at RGV. This also affects the overall economic development of the region as businesses struggle to find skilled workers, local economies stagnate and struggle to achieve their full potential.
With these funding, VAMOS will help 19 university juniors and seniors complete education at four-year institutions, focusing on healthcare, education, business, IT and other professions in demand.
Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development (RSTEF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focusing on higher education and workforce development. RSTEF serves seven counties of areas consisting of Willasie, Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Zapatta, Jimhog and Webb counties. Nonprofits provide financial support to 501(c)3 nonprofits, whose programs increase the skilled employment and education acquisition of local residents. The goal of RSTEF is to improve the local economic situation and quality of life by helping residents in our area to obtain occupational trade certification and/or occupational degrees in demand.
Since 2019, RSTEF has awarded $9.4 million to the Rio South Texas Region program. That $9.4 million makes use of up to $18.8 million by matching funds. To date, 26 programs have been awarded at institutions such as UTRGV, Texas A&M, Texas A&M International, Laredo College, South Texas College, TSTC, South Texas University, Valley Grande Institute, and South Texas Imaginarium.
This year, RSTEF was able to award $2.9 million to 13 initiatives promoting post-secondary education and workforce development in the region, affecting $5.8 million in the Rio South Texas region.
The RSTEF board of directors includes Keith Partridge, James Moore, Jimmy Nozzon, Dr. Miguel Nevarez, Dr. Kelly Nassole, Dr. Joel Solis, Walter Reina, David Oliveira and Frank Almaraz.
RSTEF’s fundraising cycle opens on July 1st and ends on August 31st. Please contact us for information about RSTEF and financial support. Contact us info@riosouthtexasecdf.org. Follow Rio South South Texas ECDF on Facebook.
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