Endowed Scholarships – Creating A Legacy
Out for Education recently created a program for donors wishing to create a lasting legacy for Houston LGBTQ+ students. We launched our Endowed Scholarship Program for those looking to invest in the future of our community, and ensure the continued support of LGBTQ+ students.
There are currently four endowments being funded. To contribute to an endowed scholarship please indicate so in the donation notes!
- The Bob Briddick endowed scholarship created in honor of one of our founding members who has donated hundreds of hours of his time to the Houston LGBTQ+ community.
- The SECOND Tom Fricke endowed scholarship was created by the Associate Publisher of the award-winning Houston LGBTQ+ magazine OutSmart.
- The Lerma-Fuentes endowed scholarship was created by former OFE scholarship recipient Juan Lerma and his partner Marvin Fuentes as a means to give back to the community that supports them.
Out For Education – Endowed Scholarships
Hollyfield Foundation Endowed Scholarship
The Hollyfield Foundation is a local non-profit created in honor of Jay Hollyfield, a native Houstonian who, during his life, was a passionate and tireless advocate of gay and lesbian causes. The mission of the Hollyfield Foundation, as stated in their mission, is to “…foster[s] and protect[s] individual rights and freedoms by providing direct and indirect funding to qualifying 501©3 organizations that work to prevent discrimination, educate and secure equal rights for sexual minorities and assist in health care issues for the community, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS education, care and treatment.”. The Hollyfield Foundation has been a consistent and strong supporter of Out for Education and its students since the beginning; Their generous donations continue to impact LGBTQIA+ students through their named scholarship and endowment.
John Danielson Memorial Endowed Scholarship
The John Danielson Memorial endowed scholarship is in memory of community leader John Danielson, III. John generously supported many local non-profits by opening his beautiful home, hosting fundraisers, for any who needed a venue.
His widower, along with the various organizations that John supported, wanted to keep his legacy of selflessly giving to improve his adopted hometown continue—They decided to hold a fundraiser to create an endowed scholarship in his honor. The event was huge success, thanks to the generosity of John’s friends and the Houston LGBTQIA+ community, John’s endowment was fully funded in one night. Since the creation of the endowment, John’s legacy of generous support lives on the lives of the students who are awarded scholarship money from his endowment.
Major-Reeth Endowed Scholarship
Luigi Major, a Houston hospitality consultant, wanted to support the Houston LGBTQIA+ community but was unsure how until he learned of Out for Education and was moved by the organization’s mission. Luigi started donating to the organization—eventually he decided that he wanted to make an even bigger impact for the scholars by increasing his donations and creating and endowed scholarship. The scholarship was completely funded within two years; Luigi’s generosity has, and will continue, to positively support and impact Out for Education scholarship recipients.
Kenner Harris – STEM Endowed Scholarship
Kenner Harris is a Houston engineer who wished to support students who are majoring in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical (STEM) fields. His endowed scholarship is awarded to students majoring in one of these areas; his endowment provides financial support to students who share Kenner’s passion for these subjects.
Bunnies on the Bayou Endowed Scholarship
Bunnies on the Bayou is a local non-profit whose mission is “dedicated to the raising and distributing of funds for various charitable, educational and cultural programs that seek to improve the quality of life and promote education and awareness of human rights for individuals in the Houston LGBTQIA+ community.” Bunnies has been a tireless supporter of Out for Education with their increasingly generous donations supporting our organization each year. Due to the incredible success of 2017’s Bunnies on the Bayou 38 fundraiser, Bunnies was able to make the generous decision to create a fully funded endowed scholarship.
Tom Fricke Endowed Scholarship
The Tom Fricke permanent endowment scholarship was created by the associate publisher of the award-winning Houston LGBTQIA+ publication, OutSmart Magazine. Tom Fricke has been a generous supporter of Out for Education and decided to create a lasting legacy with the organization in 2016 with a permanent endowment. His ongoing support, both through his work at OutSmart Magazine and this endowment, will continue to impact LGBTQIA+ individuals and the Houston LGBTQIA+ community itself.
Douglas Allen Upchurch Endowed Scholarship
The Douglas Allen Upchurch Endowed Scholarship was created by Doug’s partner, Charles Dillard, and his parents, Don and Susan Upchurch. The endowment was fully funded in less than a year by his many friends and loved ones from across the US, a testament to the kind and wonderful person that Doug was.
Terry Hamman Endowed Scholarship
Terry Hamman was a beloved family member and a never-to-be-forgotten member of the Houston LGBTQ community whose gift was to make each person feel uniquely special. Terry had a passion for education and worked for many years as a special education teacher in the area of assistive technology where he touched the lives of thousands differently abled students and individuals, offering options to improve their communication, reading and writing skills, and quality of life. Terry was a loyal supporter of many local artists and the Houston arts community. He served as President of EPAH – the Executive and Professional Association of Houston, a professional and social organization for the LGBTQ community. He was active in the Diana Foundation, a leading philanthropic LGBTQ organization. Terry was known for his radiant smile that would light up a room. His energy and joy were unmatched, and he was deeply loved by many. This scholarship honors Terry’s memory and his many contributions.
To add funds to this endowment please indicate Hamman Endowment in the comments of the donation online form.
Out For Education – Endowment’s Being Funded
2nd Tom Fricke Endowed Scholarship
After the first Tom Fricke endowed scholarship was funded a second was started!
The Tom Fricke permanent endowment scholarship was created by the associate publisher of the award-winning Houston LGBTQIA+ publication, OutSmart Magazine. Tom Fricke has been a generous supporter of Out for Education and decided to create a lasting legacy with the organization in 2016 with a permanent endowment. His ongoing support, both through his work at OutSmart Magazine and this endowment, will continue to impact LGBTQIA+ individuals and the Houston LGBTQIA+ community itself.
To add funds to this endowment please indicate Tom Fricke endowment in the comments of the donation online form.
Bob Briddick/OutReach United Endowed Scholarship
Long time donors created the Bob Briddick endowed scholarship to honor one our founding members who has donated hundreds of hours of his time to the Houston LGBTQIA+ community. OutReach United and Bob Briddick believe that investing in the LGBTQIA+ community strengthens both individuals in the community and the community itself. The Bob Briddick permanent endowment scholarship upholds this mission by investing in the education of local LGBTQIA+ students.
To add funds to this endowment please indicate Bob Briddick Endowment in the comments of the donation online form.
Lerma-Fuentes Endowed Scholarship
Juan F. Lerma and Marvin Y. Fuentes come from immigrant families and both are the first in their families to graduate from college. Both hold degrees in
Finance and work in the Energy Industry. Juan was an Out For Education recipient during his days college. When Juan and Marvin met, they realized they
both had a sincere interest in being involved within the community by giving back or volunteering. They both served on the board of Out For Education for a period of time. They then decided to establish an endowment as a means to give back to the LGBTQ+ community by investing in its future and by using this opportunity to highlight that it is possible for two gay immigrant kids to go to college, be out and proud, have a career, build a life with someone and be happy!
To add funds to this endowment please indicate Lerma-Fuentes Endowment in the comments of the donation online form.
Endowed Scholarships FAQs
Absolutely. A new endowment can be created, or additional funds can be provided to an endowment you previously established.
Donors can determine scholarship criteria (as long as it meets with board approval and Out for Education scholarship guidelines).
For example, the endowed scholarship could be for University of Houston students only, or only engineering majors. We suggest keeping any requested restrictions broad in nature in order to impact the greatest number of students.
The Endowed Scholarship can be funded over a period of 5 years. The year the endowment reaches $25,000, Out for Education will award a scholarship in honor of the donor from general funds.
The year after this threshold is met, the first ENDOWED scholarship will be awarded.
The minimum threshold for an endowed scholarship is $25,000. The goal is to give out 4% a year in scholarships (but could vary based on rate of return). For example, a $100,000 endowed scholarship will enable Out for Education to give out $4,000 in scholarships each year. The principal is kept in the endowment, allowing it to grow in the future.
An endowed scholarship is intended to last in perpetuity, providing a scholarship for every awards cycle.
Out for Education is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations are deductible to the fullest extent of the law.