Transforming Education Across the Rio Grande Valley

October 4, 2021

CFT's Educate Texas releases regional scoreboard

RGV FOCUS is measurably improving education across all four counties of the Rio Grande Valley. CFT’s Educate Texas founded RGV FOCUS in 2012 with the vision of building a community partnership to make sure all students in the Rio Grande Valley get the education they need and deserve to achieve meaningful careers and lives.

The Rio Grande Valley is one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., home to 1.36 million people along the Texas-Mexico border. Comprised of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties, it is a young, bilingual and bicultural community, where 92% of residents are Latino and the median household income is $39,000. Thirty percent of the population lives in poverty, compared to 15% Texas-wide.

RGV FOCUS’ 2020 annual report, Now, More Than Ever, includes several important bright spots with year-over-year positive increases:

As we look forward, Educate Texas and RGV FOCUS know there is still critical work to do. When it comes to high school graduation, the end is only the beginning – and we will continue to work together with education, business, and community leaders to ensure more students find their place on a path that is right for them.

Read the full story in our Fall 2021 IMPACT Magazine

Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy

Alumni help their company hone giving priorities

After graduating from CFT’s Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy (ELP) program, alumni members and colleagues Tyler Floyd, Devin DeLapp-Carnes, and Taylor Nipp helped launch a Community Engagement Committee at their company, SFMG Wealth Advisors.

North Texas Giving Day Proclamation

On September 23, 2021, donations can be made from 6 a.m. to midnight to more than 3,200 certified local nonprofits in the 20 county region around DFW listed on www.NorthTexasGivingDay.org; And, from September 1-22, early donations can be made on the website in advance of Giving Day; I would like to thank CFT for powering this incredible day, and I encourage all Dallas residents to take part in this special event and support our local nonprofits by giving to them on North Texas Giving Day.

Turning A Day of Tragedy into A Day of Doing Good

Freedom Day 2021 at Cedar Hill High School

Freedom Day, an annual day of service led by CFT for Business, an initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, commemorates 9/11/2001 by transforming a day of profound loss for our country into a day for doing good in our community.

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