ABAC RECEIVES $500,000 GOIZUETA FOUNDATION GRANT

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, in its quest to maintain its status as a leader in providing educational opportunities to Hispanics/Latinos—the nation’s fastest growing population according to the U. S. Census Bureau—announced today that The Goizueta Foundation of Atlanta, Ga., has selected the college to receive a grant in the amount of $500,000 to provide financial assistance and educational resources for Hispanic students.

The grant will provide $425,000 to establish and endow The Goizueta Foundation Scholars Fund to offer need-based scholarship assistance annually for Hispanic/Latino students whose families currently reside in the United States. An additional $75,000 will provide immediate need-based scholarship assistance annually over three years to Hispanic/Latino students whose families currently reside in the United States.

“We are most honored to be selected by The Goizueta Foundation for this important grant,” ABAC President Mike Vollmer said. “The funds will enable ABAC to further expand educational opportunities for generations of college students.”

Roberto C. Goizueta established The Goizueta Foundation in 1992 to provide financial assistance to educational and charitable institutions. The Foundation is a private, general purpose, grant-making foundation whose mission is to assist organizations that empower individuals and families through educational opportunities to improve the quality of their lives.

A native of Cuba and a graduate of Yale University, Goizueta was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company until his death in October, 1997. In creating The Goizueta Foundation, he sought to acknowledge his indebtedness to the United States and to continue the commitment to philanthropic endeavors that has symbolized the leadership of The Coca-Cola Company for more than a century. The Foundation aims to support educational programs that promote sustainable change and have a long-term impact in the community. 

The Goizueta Foundation’s gift represents a major step in ABAC’s initiative to provide economic and educational assistance to the Hispanic/Latino population of Georgia, which grew by 300 percent from 1990-2000. According to the 2000 Census Report, Hispanics/Latinos comprise six percent of the population in ABAC’s surrounding nine-county area.

The scholarship funds provided by The Goizueta Foundation will greatly impact Hispanic/Latino enrollment at ABAC by offering additional financial assistance. The ABAC Foundation currently offers two scholarships designed specifically for Hispanic/Latino students.

The grant will also play a major role in offering substantial assistance to Hispanic/Latino students who do not qualify for CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program) or other federal aid. CAMP is designed to recruit and assist students who are migratory or seasonal farm workers, or children of such workers, providing them with the financial services and assistance to complete their first year of college.

Incoming Hispanic/Latino students will join an increasing number of Hispanic/Latino students who are presently enrolled at the college. During the 2003 fall semester, 3.6 percent of the 3,407 members of the student body classified themselves as Hispanic/Latino.

ABAC already offers a variety of resources to support Hispanic/Latino students as they pursue their college education, including academic programs, student clubs and organizations, honor societies, and extracurricular activities. Support services provided for students consist of learning support courses, tutoring, personal and transfer counseling, and academic advising. In addition, bilingual information is available from CAMP personnel to assist non-English speaking parents or guardians, allowing them to play a role in their son’s or daughter’s education.

ABAC’s International Club provides educational and social activities for its members, who include both international students and native-born students of minority cultural backgrounds, and promotes an appreciation of cultural diversity. The Sabor Latino dance group offers Hispanic/Latino students an opportunity to demonstrate their cultural heritage while entertaining college and community audiences.

Tom Call, Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services at ABAC, added “The college already has several programs designed to support Hispanic/Latino students. With this generous grant from The Goizueta Foundation, we will be better able to provide educational opportunities that will be required as our Hispanic/Latino population increases, and we strive for a better educated Georgia.”

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