Hoping to fight drop-out rates with a focus on higher education, the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce aims to raise $25,000 this year for local Hispanic students.
After a five-year hiatus of hosting an annual gala, the chamber is gearing up to raise more money than ever for students, said Mariale Uria, a board of directors member.
Last year, the chamber raised enough to dole out $1,000 each to 15 students. Members hope to nearly double that this year at the gala next week in Lakewood Ranch.
"Us helping students further their education, working in the community, prospering in it and contributing to it is our goal as a chamber," Uria said. "The purpose is to help people who want to go to higher education but aren't necessarily able to pay for it."
Scholarships are awarded by looking at a student's academic record, outside school activities and their income level. Money is given to students who are in high school or stalled in their efforts to enroll in higher education, she said.
For Luisa Castano, the chamber scholarship helped with her tuition bill at Southeastern University in Lakeland, where she just finished her freshman year.
After graduating high school from Lakewood Ranch High, Castano, who was born in Colombia, plans to double-major in religion and business. She wants to work in a ministry while writing books and speaking publicly on the side.
"It really helped me out as far as paying for school," Castano said. "Just the experience I gained while at the college is awesome. Being able to go to the school I wanted instead of just community college."
While the chamber awards scholarships to students heading to universities, it also gives funds out to students enrolling at community colleges, vocational schools or technical institutes, Uria said.
The Lakewood Ranch gala features live Latin music and dancers, she said, touching on a culture shared by about 50 percent of chamber members. The remaining 50 percent of its members are non-Hispanic.
"There's a lot of celebration of the Latin culture itself," Uria said. "It's a good time to get to know a little bit more about it, or if you already know it and enjoy it, it's a great opportunity to do so."
Maura Possley, Herald reporter , can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 2640.
If you go
What: Latin Chamber Gala
When: 6:30 p.m. May 16
Where: Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, 7650 Legacy Blvd.
Who: Public invited.
Information: Contact 358-7065 for tickets, which cost $95.
