Over thirty scholarship funds administered by the Puerto Rico Community Foundation have supported more than 2,000 students since the 1990s.
San Juan, July 29, 2019 Since 1983, when the Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico(FCPR) was established, the institution has enjoyed the trust of donors who have seen in the only community foundation that exists on the island the opportunity to channel their philanthropic concerns through the establishment of funds, either for the granting of scholarships or donations to nonprofit institutions.
It was around 1990 that the scholarship program began, thanks to the diversity of funds established by donors on and off the island to support the country's development. Some of the first scholarship funds were the Gerald P. Toomey Fund, which supported students studying careers related to maritime transportation, and the OP & WE Edwards Fund, which granted scholarships to students interested in conducting research at the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. The program continued to be strengthened with other funds after 2000, such as the Gonzalo Aponte Foundation Fund, the Stanley & Georgene Pasarell Fund, the Gualasia Fund and the Hispanic Federation Recovery and Relief Fund, the latter being one of the most recent funds, which has awarded 354 scholarships.
For the FCPR, the scholarship program has become a very attractive one for individuals, affinity groups, businesses and other philanthropic institutions to directly support young students in their desire to excel in life. The program allows these donors to get a close look at the needs of young people, but also their aspirations and desires to actively participate in the development of our island. “Usually among the criteria for applying is the writing of an essay so that the young people can express how their career will contribute to the development of the community. In addition to GPA and financial need, the essay becomes the window that allows us to get to know that young person and his or her character better. All of these elements are weighted in a rubric that an evaluation committee carries out,” emphasized Dr. Nelson I. Colón Tarrats, executive president of the institution.
To date, the FCPR has awarded approximately 2,320 scholarships to more than 2,000 students, mostly at the post-secondary level, for a total investment in the island's youth of $$4.4 million.
“There are donors who want to support students and don't know where to start, and this desire is heightened during the beginning of the school year. At the Puerto Rico Community Foundation, we take the donor by the hand in a philanthropic counseling process until we match their desire with the existing need among young people. We help them touch lives and change stories,” said Mary Ann Gabino, PRCF senior vice president.
Currently, there are three scholarships open for students to apply for: the Aon Scholarship Fund for Talented Students (Business Administration, Human Resources, Accounting and Finance); the La Sombra Lareña Scholarship Fund (students from Lares); and the McConnell Valdés/Antonio Escudero Viera Scholarship Fund (students from the UPR School of Law). To learn more and start the application process, visit Apply for Support at www.fcpr.org.
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About the Puerto Rico Community Foundation | The FCPR is a nonprofit organization that for more than 34 years has been advising individuals, families, corporations and foundations inside and outside the island on how to channel their philanthropic concerns. The advice seeks to ensure that donors' contributions have an impact on the self-development of Puerto Ricans. In addition, FCPR's strategic plan promotes equitable and sustainable access to clean water, renewable energy, housing, economic development and education. The FCPR is the first foundation of its kind in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, and today the only one in Puerto Rico.