The funding will be used to create the Dream Big Scholarship Fund for Latino students attending Ivy Tech, who have financial need.
Brant Flores owner of PMG Landscaping and president of the board of directors for HOLA, a Southwest Indiana organization with the mission of enhancing cultural diversity and ensuring the success of Latinos in the region, today announced, that the organization is donating $5,000 to Ivy Tech Community College Evansville.
The funding will be used to create the Dream Big Scholarship Fund for Latino students attending Ivy Tech, who have financial need, but may not have access to state and federal aid. In making the announcement, Flores said one of the pillars of the organization is to support Latinos in their educational endeavors. Brant Flores said, “the HOLA organization was designed to evolve as the needs of the Latino community in Southwest Indiana progresses. Horace Mann said ‘Education is the great equalizer’ and our people are ready to take on the challenge of bettering themselves to achieve their potential and we think that the best partner in this endeavor is Ivy Tech.” The $5,000 came from the proceeds of the annual HOLA Festival held this last August. “We want to thank the Southwest Indiana community for attending and supporting our event at Bosse Field that allowed us to contribute to this special need,” Flores added. HOLA will continue to raise funds and hopes to contribute to this fund annually.
Ivy Tech Evansville Chancellor Daniela Vidal said the gift is especially important on this Giving Tuesday. “We also want to announce that HOLA’s donation and the number of students we can serve was just increased, as we will match that $5,000 with funding from donors who have a similar mission – for a total of $10,000 to be used for Latino students in need. “One special donor who is contributing to a fund he established for this same cause through the Ivy Tech Foundation, is Casey Trela, director of financial aid,” said Erica Schmidt, executive director of the Foundation. “He works on the frontlines and sees the financial burden that is an obstacle, that students face,” Schmidt added.
This will be an opportunity for our students to get their start at Ivy Tech and earn a degree or credential that is needed for the high-demand jobs in our community, while addressing a growing unmet need,” she said.
The check was accepted by Erica Schmidt, executive director of the Ivy Tech Foundation. Interested students can learn more by going to https://link.ivytech.edu/HOLA