Hispanic College Fund
Encyclopedia
Hispanic College Fund, Inc. (HCF) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare the next generation of Hispanic professionals. It serves primarily high school and college students.
The Hispanic College Fund Pipeline
High School Programs:
Each year, the Hispanic College Fund hosts the Hispanic Youth Institute, which kicks off with the Hispanic Youth Symposium, a summer college residency program for high school students. During the Symposium, students spend three days on a local college campus, attending college prep workshops, developing relationship with professional and near-peer mentors and planning their academic and professional futures. Once the Symposium concludes, student participants are enrolled in year-round programming provided by the Institute, which helps them create a college-going culture in their high schools.
College Programs:
The organization was founded in 1993 and awards approximately $2 million in scholarships to students from across the United States. Seventy percent of students who receive scholarships from the Hispanic College Fund are the first in their family to attend college. The median household income
of scholarship recipients is $21,500.
The Hispanic College Fund also administers NASA's Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology program, which provides scholarships and academic support to underserved students pursuing STEM careers.
Young Professionals Programs:
The Hispanic Professionals Institute brings dozens of HCF's top scholars to Washington, DC each year for intensive professional development training. Students attend resume writing and personal branding workshops, participate in mock interviews with HR professionals in their field of choice, and take part in other activities that help them prepare to enter the career world.
Awards and Recognition:
In 2007 USA Today
named the Hispanic College Fund as one of the Top 25 Charities in the United States. During 2007 and 2009, the Hispanic College Fund also received a 4-star rating (out of a possible four stars) from Charity Navigator
, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities. In 2010, HCF's Hispanic Youth Institute was recognized with the College Board's College CompactKeys award, which acknowledges the program for innovation in helping students prepare for college.
Today HCF is funded through personal and corporate contributions from some of the best-known companies in America, including Estée Lauder Companies
, The Ford Motor Company Fund, General Dynamics
, Marriott International
, Lockheed Martin
and Sodexo.
HCF annually hosts a gala to recognize its sponsors and scholarship winners. The "Portraits of Success" gala attracts upwards of 500 attendees. Past keynote speakers have included Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
, Chairman & CEO of Marriott International, Bill Marriott
and U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman
, Orrin Hatch
, Kay Bailey Hutchison
and Mel Martinez
.
The Hispanic College Fund Pipeline
High School Programs:
Each year, the Hispanic College Fund hosts the Hispanic Youth Institute, which kicks off with the Hispanic Youth Symposium, a summer college residency program for high school students. During the Symposium, students spend three days on a local college campus, attending college prep workshops, developing relationship with professional and near-peer mentors and planning their academic and professional futures. Once the Symposium concludes, student participants are enrolled in year-round programming provided by the Institute, which helps them create a college-going culture in their high schools.
College Programs:
The organization was founded in 1993 and awards approximately $2 million in scholarships to students from across the United States. Seventy percent of students who receive scholarships from the Hispanic College Fund are the first in their family to attend college. The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
of scholarship recipients is $21,500.
The Hispanic College Fund also administers NASA's Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology program, which provides scholarships and academic support to underserved students pursuing STEM careers.
Young Professionals Programs:
The Hispanic Professionals Institute brings dozens of HCF's top scholars to Washington, DC each year for intensive professional development training. Students attend resume writing and personal branding workshops, participate in mock interviews with HR professionals in their field of choice, and take part in other activities that help them prepare to enter the career world.
Awards and Recognition:
In 2007 USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
named the Hispanic College Fund as one of the Top 25 Charities in the United States. During 2007 and 2009, the Hispanic College Fund also received a 4-star rating (out of a possible four stars) from Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. Its stated goal is "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities."-About:...
, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities. In 2010, HCF's Hispanic Youth Institute was recognized with the College Board's College CompactKeys award, which acknowledges the program for innovation in helping students prepare for college.
Today HCF is funded through personal and corporate contributions from some of the best-known companies in America, including Estée Lauder Companies
Estée Lauder Companies
Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. is a manufacturer and marketer of prestige skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company has its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.-History:...
, The Ford Motor Company Fund, General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
, Marriott International
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
, Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
and Sodexo.
HCF annually hosts a gala to recognize its sponsors and scholarship winners. The "Portraits of Success" gala attracts upwards of 500 attendees. Past keynote speakers have included Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
, Chairman & CEO of Marriott International, Bill Marriott
J.W. Marriott, Jr.
John Willard "Bill" Marriott, Jr. is the Chairman and CEO of Marriott International.-Biography:Marriott is the son of Alice Marriott and J. Willard Marriott, the founder of Marriott International. He attended St. Albans School in Washington, DC, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance...
and U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman
Jeff Bingaman
Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr. , is the senior U.S. Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party...
, Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
, Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, known as Kay Bailey Hutchison , is the senior United States Senator from Texas.She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2001, she was named one of the thirty most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal. The first woman to represent Texas in the U.S....
and Mel Martinez
Mel Martinez
Melquíades Rafael Martínez Ruiz, usually known as Mel Martinez , is a former United States Senator from Florida and served as Chairman of the Republican Party from November 2006 until October 19, 2007, the first Latino to serve as chairman of a major party...
.