A “Valentine’s Day Gala” to raise funds for a scholarship program benefitting low-income, first-generation students at The University of Texas and other universities in the Austin area will be held Feb. 11 at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark.
The formal gala, beginning at 5:45 p.m., will feature Ron Oliveira, news anchor at KEYE TV, as the master of ceremonies.
Hilbert R. Maldonado, secretary for Sembradores de Austin, said the organization has raised more than $600,000 for endowments established by the organization at The University of Texas at Austin, Concordia University Texas, Huston-Tillotson University and St. Edward’s University since the program was begun in Austin in 1995.
Maldonado said a total of 61 scholarships valued at $94,000 have been awarded to students at area colleges since the program’s inception.
Sembradores de Austin scholarships target Central Texas students who are among the first generation of their families to attend college and who qualify as being “financially and educationally disadvantaged,” Maldonado said.
Maldonado said the Valentine’s event is open to the public, but seating is limited. Tickets for the dinner and dance must be purchased by Friday, Feb. 10 and cannot be bought at the door. Tickets cost $100 each. Sponsor tables cost $2,850 for a gold corporate table and $1,800 for a silver corporate table. For details, contact Maldonado at 512-689-4245.
