NBA Foundation awards grant to NHI at San Antonio, supporting leadership education

The NBA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Basketball Association, has awarded the NHI at San Antonio (NHI@SA) alliance with a grant supporting its ongoing leadership efforts for San Antonio-area high school students. The award, reflecting recognition from both the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA, comes just several months after the San Antonio Spurs honored NHI president and founder Ernesto Nieto as part of its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

“On behalf of NHI@SA and the San Antonio Community, we thank the NBA Foundation for this incredible honor,” said Ixchell González, NHI@SA board member and spokesperson. “Your confidence in our mission will create a meaningful and lasting impact on the families we serve. This support allows us to continue over 30 years of local work — and 46 years nationally — assisting students in building the leadership skills and social coalitions necessary to make community progress possible.” 

The grant funding will support NHI’s mission to guide youth readiness for higher education, career preparedness, and community leadership. This partnership highlights a shared commitment to empowering young people, particularly young Latinos, by providing them with the tools necessary to define a social purpose and effect change in society.

Specifically, the grant will enable NHI@SA to:

• Assist committed Bexar County students with local resources for tuition;
• Provide funds for busing students to Austin College for the Texas Great Debate;
• Defer training costs for facilities (as NHI@SA pays prorated costs for security and maintenance for student and parent meetings; and
• Contributing to administrative expenses.

By participating in NHI, students develop deeper self-awareness and are inspired to prioritize community leadership. NHI also prepares students for college and beyond; membership surveys show that 98% enter college, 90% graduate within five years, and 65% pursue professional-level degrees.

Founded in 1996 to organize one of the Institute’s most active and engaged regions, NHI@SA has, over nearly 30 years, boasted more than 5,000 affiliated students who have enrolled in NHI’s immersive, transformative leadership education programs. Led by a volunteer local board and experienced alumni, the alliance currently works with about 230 students each year to prepare them for NHI’s three-year suite of leadership education programs.

NHI@SA also maintains active relationships with three local higher education partners that host approximately 600 students a year — from across the United States and throughout the Americas — for leadership education experiences at Trinity University (the Lorenzo De Zavala Youth Legislative session for rising juniors and seniors), St. Mary’s University (the Texas Ambassador Great Debate for rising sophomores), and Our Lady of the Lake University (the Texas Star Great Debate, also for rising sophomores).

NHI@SA founders Mary Helen and Dr. Hector González were named NHI Persons of the Year this past Dec. 31, recognized for their longstanding contributions to the organization, as well as their instrumental roles in NHI@SA’s continued success.

“With the support of the NBA Foundation, NHI@SA looks forward to expanding access to these transformative leadership experiences for San Antonio youth—ensuring that more students are equipped not only to succeed academically and professionally, but to lead with purpose and positively shape the world around them,” the alliance noted in its press release on receiving the award.