The Hostos Community College Foundation has been awarded $150,000 from Libra Group Social Responsibility (LSR) to support the Hostos Family Empowerment Program (FEP), the organization’s 55th Anniversary Gala, and additional student educational experiences.

Since its establishment in 2013, the FEP has mostly supported financial needs of student-parents through referrals to external organizations and internally donated items. The program offers structured advising, solidarity, counseling, and community-building, ensuring that student-parents have the necessary resources and support to complete their degree while caring for their families. Student-parents consistently cite the support and guidance they receive from Hostos as a major influence in their positive academic experience.

With this new 2-year grant from LSR, the FEP will have resources to provide more direct assistance, helping students to afford childcare, books, MetroCards, and more, as well as cultural experiences and educational workshops. Additionally, Libra will sponsor up to 10 students on a trip to Washington, D.C. this year to visit cultural sites and meet with executives and staff at Libra Group’s D.C. office.

“This partnership will certainly generate opportunities for students within several thriving industries. The Foundation is grateful to Libra Group Social Responsibility for its generous contributions to the college,” affirmed Vice President of Institutional Advancement Colette Atkins.

LSR will also serve as a presenting sponsor of Hostos’ 55th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, April 26. This yearly event celebrates the history of the college in the South Bronx, as well as the contributions students make every day to the community through their academic and professional achievements. Funds pledged to the gala will support scholarships and student success initiatives at Hostos.

“We are proud to support the Hostos Family Empowerment Program and to help provide resources and opportunities that will help students balance two important goals in their lives at once – their educational endeavors and raising a family,” said Gina Crivelli, Director of Operations and Philanthropic Giving at LSR.

About Eugenio María de Hostos Community College
 
Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities for over half a century. Since 1968, Hostos has been a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs.
 
Hostos offers 28 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate secure transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 25 colleges.           
 
About Libra Social Responsibility

Libra Social Responsibility (LSR) is driven by a vision of what people can become when connected to the right resources and opportunities. Through a hybrid approach of creating new nonprofits and strengthening existing ones, we seek to build an infrastructure of support around those who have been historically unseen, overlooked and underserved.  We collaborate, provide hands-on support, and build connections for partners across five key cause areas: economic opportunity, education, health, humanitarian aid, and leadership. LSR is the philanthropic arm of Libra Group, an international business group whose subsidiaries manage and operate assets in more than 60 countries. Visit us at www.libra.social.

If you would like more information, please email Ivano Leoncavallo, Director of Communications (ileoncavallo@hostos.cuny.edu). 
 
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