Procter & Gamble’s ‘Avanzando con tu Familia’ joined by Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) has joined forces with Procter and Gamble’s (P&G) Avanzando con tu Familia for the fifth consecutive year to provide scholarships to Hispanic students throughout the U.S. as well as educational and community support to promote higher education among Hispanics.

According to recent information released by the U.S. Census Bureau, workers 18 and over with a bachelor’s degree earn an average annual salary of $51,206 when compared to those with only a high school diploma, who earn $27,915. Yet despite the statistics reinforcing the value of a college education, the Hispanic community continues to lag behind in educational training when compared to other ethnic groups. The statistical breakdown of those 25 or older with a bachelor’s degree or higher show Hispanics with only 12.1 percent, compared to Asians who had the highest proportion (49.4 percent), followed by Non-Hispanic whites (30.6 percent) and African-Americans (17.6 percent).

“Investing in the education of the growing Latino workforce is key to our nation’s future,” said Guido Minaya, HSF Vice President of Programs. “Our partnership with Procter and Gamble will help HSF provide students and their parents with financial resources and the information and tools necessary to navigate the college enrollment process. We are determined to provide the support students need in order to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees.”

The HSF and Avanzando con tu Familia partnership has provided more than 100 one-year scholarships to Latino students and has funded Town Hall meetings in nine cities that have helped to educate over 3,500 Latino students and their families about the college application process and financial aid options.

“The Hispanic Scholarship Fund was a tremendous source of support for me while I was in college. With financial support from scholarships like the HSF, I was able to fulfill my dreams of obtaining a college degree,” explains Victoria Reyes, a 2001-2002 HSF scholar who now works as a Human Resources Manager for P&G Beauty Care and who best exemplifies the impact a scholarship from HSF can have in a student’s life.

P&G has partnered with HSF for the last 31 years, contributing more than $1.8 million in support of its commitment to help educate future Hispanic leaders. This year P&G will once again contribute 10 cents to HSF, up to $115,000, with each purchase of select P&G products, which include Tide(R), Dawn(R), Gain(R), Charmin(R), Bounty(R), Downy(R), Duracell(R) and Febreze(R). The promotion will run from Oct. 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007.

“The data from the Census backs up the fact that a college education is a key element in the success and prosperity of Hispanics,” said Graciela Eleta, vice president and general manager of P&G’s multicultural business development organization. “Together with the HSF we hope to empower Hispanic youth with the tools to achieve their dreams and improve their lives and that of their families.”