GE Launches Scholarship to Help Promising Hispanic Students Access College

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Philadephia, PA - Oct 19, 2011 - GE Hispanic Forum Holds Day of Service With More than 650 Volunteers

Today, GE's Hispanic Forum, a Hispanic employee-driven affinity organization, is announcing the launch of the GE Hispanic Forum Scholarship. GE's Hispanic Forum is partnering with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the GE Foundation to help aspiring and deserving Hispanic students obtain a college education. As part of the launch, more than 650 GE volunteers will participate in a day of service.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GPHCC) Varsovia Fernandez will kick off the day of service by thanking GE employees for their commitment to helping Philadelphia's youth. They also will address the importance of closing the achievement gap among underrepresented student groups and encourage students from Edison High to stay focused on obtaining a good education and working hard to make their dreams a reality.

At this year's GE Hispanic Forum Summit, which is being held in Philadelphia, GE is awarding two deserving Edison High students of Hispanic descent who plan to major in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field each a $10,000 scholarship. The scholarship will be administered by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which will select the two students who qualify based on their rigorous application process. In addition, the GE Hispanic Forum will begin a mentoring program to ensure the selected students are successful in college.

"A solid education will open limitless opportunities for students in Philadelphia and around the country," said Delia Garced national co-chair of GE's Hispanic Forum. "An educated and diverse workforce will help American companies invent technologies of the future and become stronger global competitors. Our goal is to help develop talent in the United States and open new opportunities for our community at GE."

GE employees will spend the afternoon with more than 900 students at Edison High. They will mentor students on resume writing, mock interviewing, professional lifestyles and financial aid. GE volunteers will share stories about their education, career and personal experience with the students and emphasize the importance of staying in school. Their day will include a Junior Achievement program and an opportunity to participate on a college tour of area universities including Temple, Drexel and Philadelphia University.

GE is committed to nurturing young minds in communities where there is a GE business presence. Modeled after previously successful volunteer efforts, GE's Hispanic Forum day of service is establishing ongoing relationships with students at Edison that will help them become the leaders of tomorrow across a wide variety of industries.

Held during Hispanic Heritage month, the GE Hispanic Forum Summit is focusing on a "commitment to growth" with discussions on how to promote career development, healthy living and higher-education amongst Hispanics in GE.

About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund believes that the country prospers when all Americans have access to the opportunities a college education can afford. As the nation's leading Hispanic higher education fund, HSF works to address the barriers that keep many Latinos from earning a college degree. HSF has awarded over $330 million in scholarships over the past 36 years and has supported a broad range of outreach and education programs to help students and their families navigate collegiate life, from gaining admission and securing financial aid to finding employment after graduation. HSF envisions a future where every Latino household will have at least one college graduate, creating an enduring impact on the college outlook of Latino families nationwide, and strengthening the American economy for generations to come. For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund please visit: www.HSF.net   About Junior Achievement Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Junior Achievement's purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Junior Achievement USA reaches four million students per year in 173,000 classrooms and after-school locations through the efforts of volunteers like GE.   About GE Hispanic Forum The GE Hispanic Forum (GEHF) is a voluntary member organization within GE founded over a decade ago whose mission is to facilitate GE's efforts to attract, retain and develop Hispanic talent within GE. Founded in 1996 by a group of visionaries and pioneers, the GEHF aims to increase the Hispanic talent pipeline and leadership penetration within GE, further the company's objectives through leveraging our backgrounds and providing members with opportunities for personal development inside and outside the company. Its close to 3,500 members are organized in 27 local hubs across the country. The GEHF's corporate executive sponsors are John Rice, vice chairman of GE and president and CEO of GE Global Growth & Operations, and Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Power & Water. Its national co-chairs are Delia Garced, GM, product commercialization, GE Energy, and Ruben Gonzalez, GM, Latin America, GE Industrial Solutions.   GE17812