Paying It Forward

Students enrolled in the BISD Early College High School (ECHS) Youth in Philanthropy classes inspired Superintendent Dr. Esperanza Zendejas to pay it forward in a little philanthropy project of her own. For their final class project, the students awarded $2,500 grants to six local non-profit organizations after researching and visiting numerous organizations in the Brownsville community. The $2,500 grants were provided by the Brownsville Community Foundation and Brownsville Foundation for Health and Education. Dr. Zendejas, impressed by the Youth in Philanthropy students’ zeal and enthusiasm for their community, asked the students to write her letters detailing why they themselves deserved a $200 award. Dr. Zendejas reviewed the letters and donated $200 to twelve of the students just before the holiday break at an event held on Tuesday, December 20 at 11 am in the BISD Boardroom. At the same event, the local Brownsville Target Store also awarded $100 gift cards to these same twelve Youth in Philanthropy students as well as to another 88 ECHS students in a flurry of holiday giving. Thanks to Dr. Zendejas and Target, a total of 100 Brownsville ISD students will have a much brighter holiday season.