La Unidad Latina Foundation

Promoting Academic Excellence for Latinos
The La Unidad Latina Foundation was established by the Board of Trustees of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. on September 18, 1999 to serve as an independent, nonprofit, non partisan charitable organization dedicated to educational achievement and civic empowerment in the Latino community.

The objectives of the Foundation are:

• To award scholarships and grants to worthy and needy students for the pursuit of higher education.
• To encourage participation of Latinos in educational programs and activities.
• To support community programs which aid in the civic empowerment and educational improvement of the Latino community.

The Foundation’s Impact
Since its inception five years ago, the Foundation has provided over 50 college students with a total of over $40,000 in scholarship money that is used to cover education expenses and allow students to concentrate on their studies and not consider dropping out of school. Even with the limited promotion of our services, the Foundation receives over 200 applications annually from students across the nation – a testament of the dire need for financial support.

The Foundation has also provided 6 student organizations with grants to support efforts to promote civic empowerment and community involvement. This past year, La Fuerza Latina at SUNY Albany was awarded $1,000 for its annual Fuerza Latina Conference, the largest student-run Latino conference on the East coast.

Our fundraising efforts have been centered around promoting self-perpetuated success within the Latino community. Over 60% of our funds come from individual donors, the overwhelming majority of whom are Latino professionals who are giving back to support students and develop their own community. Indeed, many of these individuals, who faced similar situations while attending college, understand the obstacles needed to achieve academic success.

The Importance of Latino Development
Recent shifts in the American and global economy mean that those who lack a college education will find their opportunities and economic mobility severely restricted. Our service-based economy requires a level of knowledge and skill that, for the most part, can be gained only through programs offered at colleges and universities. Latinos are an increasing share of new entrants in the labor force – in 2003, one of every five new entrants in the labor force was Latino. The health of the national economy is growing more dependent on the skills and knowledge of Latino workers.

Demographic trends assure that Latinos will play an increasing role in the nation’s economic, social, political, and cultural life. The level of education they achieve will largely determine whether their role is commensurate with their demographic importance and whether they partake in the full benefits of living in the United States.

For additional information on the Foundation and how to apply for a scholarship or grant, visit:

http://foundation.launidadlatina.org

 

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