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Who We Are

Our History

Our History

In 1988 a small group of local business leaders and visionaries, that believed in the importance of higher education for underserved Hispanic/Latinx students in the community, established the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation.

Throughout our history, PHEF has focused on providing financial assistance through scholarship to students who want to attend college and earn an Associates or Bachelor's Degree in their field of choice.  Additionally, PHEF has provided support through programs to help students navigate their college journey.  

Major fundraising, private donations, scholarship management of established private scholarships, city, county and state funding all contribute to the scholarships that are awarded annually.  

Because of the founding members of PHEF, Ray Aguilera, Cathy Garcia, Carl D. Fatta, Victor A. Navarro, Abel Chavez and David F. Trujillo, today we thrive as a robust scholarship foundation with continued success in helping the future leaders of Pueblo.  

Entering into our 33rd year, PHEF has been a solid staple in the Pueblo community advocating for higher education for all students, while still fulfilling the original mission of serving underserved Hispanic/Latinx students.  The leadership of PHEF recognizes the need to expand support to those entering the career and technical education path, general high school education for adult learners and high school students starting their college journey through concurrent enrollment.  

 

Since 2016, over $1.3 million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to local students though funds allocated by the Board of County Commissioners to the Pueblo County Scholarship Fund and matching grants through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI).
$4.1 million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to students since 1988
Over 800 local students were awarded scholarships through funds allocated by the Board of County Commissioners to the Pueblo County Scholarship Fund and matching grants through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI)

PHEF Programs

In expanded Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation’s (PHEF) collaborations beyond higher education institutions, we are able to increase organizational efficiency and enhance organizational effectiveness. The need within the Pueblo community to assist and educate high school students on available opportunities for higher education is at the forefront of PHEF’s vision. PHEF believes that informed individual actions will lead to a more sustainable educational environment with a focus on supporting financially challenged students to realize their goals of attaining a higher education through a college, university or trade school.

Our programs at PHEF are vital to the Pueblo community today. Without it, many local high school graduates would struggle in securing financial assistance for their higher educational dreams and goals. We are energized about our programs because we have already begun to understand its impact on students, their families and the community.

 

April PHEF Career Exploration Panel - Education

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Supportive Services

We assist students and families with the following:

  • FAFSA Completion
  • College Application Support
  • Essay Writing
  • First Generation Student Support
Workshops

 Program workshop topics include:
• Building and Working Towards Educational Goals
• Creating a Physical and Mental Space for Studying
• Create an Effective Time Management Plan
• Reading to Learn
• Learning Styles and Learning Processes
• Listen, Take Notes, Read, and Study
• Academic Writing and Research in College
• Using and Improving Your Memory Skills
• Be Ready for Tests and Test Anxiety
• Interacting with Instructors and Classes
• Managing Your Health and Stress
• The Social World of College
• Financial Literacy
• Your Career After College

 

PHEF Financials

Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation (PHEF) is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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Mission and Vision Statement

PHEF has been a solid staple in the Pueblo community advocating for higher education.

Our Mission

PHEF helps students turn their educational dreams into goals and those goals into reality by providing scholarships for higher education to students in need from all backgrounds from Pueblo and Southern Colorado to assist them in achieving lifelong success.
  

Our Vision


VISION

The Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation aspires to advance the educational goals of all students, including those of Hispanic ancestry, in Pueblo County, and Southern Colorado, thereby raising the economic, health, and cultural status of the entire community.

CORE VALUES

Scholarships: We value every student’s opportunity to further their education and support student success.

Education: We believe that every student should be afforded the right to pursue an education.

Excellence: We encourage the pursuit of excellence in education.

Dedication: We support student dedication towards their continuing education.

Success: We measure success by the educational attainment of scholarship recipients.