The Esperanza Education Fund, Inc. is a community-financed college scholarship program founded and operated by a diverse, all-volunteer group of young professionals in the capital region. In our first year, we awarded $50,000 in college scholarships to immigrant students in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. We aim to double this amount in 2010. Unlike most scholarships of its kind, the Esperanza scholarship is open to all immigrant students regardless of ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status.

Launch Party & Concert

On March 20, we launched our organization at Atlantic Video television studios in the District of Columbia–host to ABC, HBO, Bloomberg, and now the Esperanza Education Fund!   Bolstered by co-sponsorships from 11 local immigrant organizations—including the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the District of Columbia, Ivorian Hope, and the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian-Americans—the evening both highlighted the art and culture of our diverse immigrant community and allowed us to kick-start our fundraising.   It was a huge success—a couple of numbers to explain:

  • 250+ The number of people who joined us to celebrate.
  • $11,000+ The amount we raised at the event.
  • $30,000 The minimum value of the scholarships we will award later this month.
  • 200+ The number of applications the Scholarship Committee will soon review…

We reserve a special thanks to our wonderful donors. Your generosity—especially during these difficult times—awed and inspired us. We will not take your vote of confidence lightly.

We will soon announce our first round of scholarship recipients. Until then, please join our new Facebook group to keep up to date on all of our events and to see photos of the event!

March 20, 2009 · Filed under Events

First Planning Meeting of 2009

The Development and Scholarship Committees met on Sunday, January 25 for the first planning meeting of the year. The following are pictures from our in-house photographer, Annelise Moore.

January 25, 2009 · Filed under Volunteering

Rosca de Reyes

The Development Committee, led by Alfonso “Poncho” Berthier, organized the first event of 2009 on January 9—a Rosca de Reyes party at the Danzon Art Gallery in Adams Morgan. “Rosca de Reyes” is a traditional celebration held in parts of Latin America for the Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day). The “celebration” consists of being with friends, drinking an Aztec hot chocolate drink called champurrad and eating a specially-baked Rosca de Reyes cake.

Co-hosted by the Ex-aTecs, or the Alumni Association of the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey in Washington, D.C., this event allowed the Esperanza Education Fund to spread the word to more people about its mission and scholarship program. It also allowed Esperanza folks to drink a lot of Aztec hot chocolate. Special thanks to Poncho and Eduardo Barada of the Danzon Art Gallery for organizing our kickoff event for the year!

January 9, 2009 · Filed under Events

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