Bezos Family Foundation Astonishes NHI with Gift

A surprise gift of $100,000 from the Bezos Family Foundation was picked up at NHI’s P.O. Box in the Maxwell post office as the sun set on 2023.

“Some plans move slower than we’d like, but when we opened the envelope, we were blown away! A gift like this just replaced about a year of time and effort of saving money and running fundraising campaigns – we’ll be able to accelerate progress on a number of fronts.” said Nicole Nieto, Executive Vice President.

As the Institute inches closer to its 45th anniversary year, several mid-term goals were just reclassified into short-term projects. Capital improvements to NHI’s campus as a leadership training center, the expansion of middle school programs, development, and faculty expansion and certification will all benefit from the funds.

The National Hispanic Institute’s middle school programs, Heroes, Heroines and Legends, the Inquiry Game, and Best of the Best, served 200 students in the years of 2022-2023 with the partnership of Jubilee Charter Schools, the San Antonio Alliance organization and the Tip of Texas Alliance.  The Bezos Family Foundation contribution will help us multiply these efforts and expand services through alliances. This includes program development, faculty certification and school outreach. 

As NHI grows its projects and the number of students served, it is investing in renovating the headquarters’ buildings so we can host programs on the campus. Capital investments are being made in refurbishing NHI’s Victorian main building and its “ranch house” retreat center. This will allow NHI Alliances to bring back their traditional retreats and provide space for faculty certification programs on the the property. While not in use for NHI, the facility will be rented to alumni and the public as an ongoing fund-raiser.

The organization also plans to invest funds in development efforts to expand its relationships with alumni supporters, corporate partners, and foundations. Funds are needed to underwrite the costs of planning, technology, and personnel for these efforts.

NHI extends its warmest thanks and appreciation to the Bezos Family Foundation for its continued support. This contribution was the second one in two years, allowing NHI to strengthen its capacity to grow more leaders in the Latino community.