Community Column: 大学 starts at birth with Educate South

Last week 帕洛阿尔托 大学 announced a new community effort, Educate South. This exciting new initiative focuses on beginning educational awareness at the earliest years.  We are thankful for our education, 非营利性的, 和 business partners who believe in the education of our youth 和 are ready to enhance a college-going culture in south Bexar County.

As an institution of higher education, 帕洛阿尔托 大学 is deeply committed to eradicating poverty through the transformational power of education. In order to fully develop the potential of our community’s children, Educate South embraces the fact that education starts at birth. 

With Educate South, we will continue to set the expectation that a post-secondary education is for all students while tapping into the time, 人才, 和 treasure of our southside community. We remain committed to creating a better future for the southside community by providing access to quality higher education for all members of our community.

Through three phases, 曝光, 探索, 和 Experience, which impact children of all ages – from newborn through high school – 帕洛阿尔托 大学 is committed to building a college-going culture in our community through existing programming 和 developing new 和 innovative ideas.

Though we have a strong framework in place, we cannot do this alone. It takes a community of strong, visionary leaders to help us on this journey of setting the expectation that a post-secondary education should be open to anyone, 和, by working collaboratively, we can uplift our southside community towards a better future for themselves 和 their families.

In December, we announced an eight-figure gift from author 和 philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This marks the largest one-time donation in the 大学’s history. This gift is a testament to the impact of 帕洛阿尔托 大学 in the community 和 will allow us to enhance support for current students 和 future students. To learn more about Educate South or how to become a partner, or match our contribution, visit 阿拉莫.edu/pac/educate-south.  

This column by Dr. Robert Garza, president of 帕洛阿尔托 大学, was originally published in the 圣安东尼奥 Express-新闻' Southside Reporter 和 mysanantonio.com.