State Farm, NCLR Strive to Help Graduation Rates in the Hispanic Community
Oct. 16, 2008
Daniel Soussa--HispanicBusiness.com
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There are approximately 2.9 million Hispanic students enrolled in American high schools, representing a significant 17 percent of all public secondary school students. Statistics show, however, that those students are at a higher risk of dropping out of school than their non-Hispanic peers. According to a U.S Census Bureau Population survey conducted in 2006, only 59.3 percent of Hispanics graduated from high school, while their non-Hispanic peers saw graduation rates of 86.1 percent.
Those figures don't sit well with State Farm and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). The organizations are working together to bring Hispanic graduation rates up significantly.
State Farm, through a $3 million education grant, is helping NCLR to accomplish its goals of "promoting excellence in students, increase Latino graduation rates, and close the achievement gap nationwide," said a State Farm spokesperson.
This grant, along with an additional $15 million that NCLR is raising over the next three years, will be used in efforts to hinder dropout rates amongst Hispanics, the fastest growing demographic in the United States.
Ed Rust Jr., State Farm's chairman & CEO, said that "It's vital that young members of this growing part of the American community attain the knowledge and skills that will allow them to be full and equal participants in the economy."
The education grant is not the first by State Farm to NCLR. In the past it has helped fund the council through community efforts, annual conferences, capital awards, the Raul Yzaguirre Building Campaign, and more.
This grant comes under State Farm's "Es Para Mi" campaign, which focuses on citizenship, civic engagement, and education in the Hispanic community.
"Latinos have a growing role in our nation's future prosperity and well-being. At NLCR, we appreciate having such a dedicated and supportive partner as State Farm in our work to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans," declared Janet Murguia, NCLR president and CEO.
Source: HispanicBusiness.com (c) 2008. All rights reserved.
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