Funding partnership strengthens UnidosNow’s Future Leaders Academy
UnidosNow, which provides “formal, organized representation for the growing, but underrepresented, Latino community in Sarasota and Manatee counties,” has received a multi-year commitment of $600,000 from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation in support of the UnidosNow Future Leaders Academy, UnidosNow has announced.
“This four-year commitment will support the program through 2029,” a news release says.
The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, “a long-term champion of UnidosNow, is generously matching the funds for the first year of the grant, which is dedicated exclusively to the organization’s Future Leaders Academy and the College Completion Program,” the release explains.
“The Johnson Scholarship Foundation is proud to support UnidosNow through this grant partnership,” said Bobby Krause, the Foundation CEO, in the release. “The organization’s commitment to providing wraparound services through its Future Leaders Academy and dedication to supporting the Latino community in Southwest Florida will enable even more first-generation students to succeed in college and participate more fully in the benefits of our society,” Krause added in the release.
“Together, the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and Barancik Foundation exemplify the kind of aligned, mission-driven philanthropy that makes lasting change possible,” the release continues. “UnidosNow is proud to serve as the bridge connecting their generosity to the students who need it most,” the release adds.
“UnidosNow has delivered remarkable results for a growing number of Latino students and families in our community,” said John Annis, interim president and CEO of the Barancik Foundation, in the release. “We are confident that the organization will turn this new investment into educational opportunity and economic mobility for even more students pursuing their American dream,” Annis added.
“The Future Leaders Academy is UnidosNow’s flagship program, dedicated to empowering first-generation, low-income Latino students to dream big and pursue postsecondary education,” the release explains. “In a region where college enrollment and completion rates continue to lag among Latino/Hispanic students, the program provides critical support, guidance, and opportunity to help students achieve academic success and build a pathway to a brighter future,” the release adds.
“This is a significant milestone for UnidosNow and the students we serv,” UnidosNow board Chair Kelly Kirschner said in the release. “The Johnson Scholarship Foundation invests across the U.S. and Canada, and we are honored to have their trust and support to leverage the Barancik Foundation’s significant commitment to augment the work we do in the Manasota region,” Kirschner added.
Founded in 2010, “UnidosNow has evolved from an all-volunteer group to a private nonprofit,” 501(c)(3) organization, “empowering hundreds of families annually on the path to achieving their American Dream,” the release points out. To learn more about UnidosNow, visit www.unidosnow.org or follow the nonprofit on social media:
Instagram @UnidosNow, Facebook @UnidosNow and LinkedIn.