The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) received a $ 1 million grant from the multinational institution Bank of America, which will allow students in financial need to receive training to complete their university education and training to enter the local and global workforce, the president of the university system, Dr. Jorge Haddock, announced this Sunday.
“In the historical context in which we find ourselves, in the main teaching and scientific center of Puerto Rico we are focused on guaranteeing the best education and the maximum development of each one of our students. Aware that insofar as we guarantee better professional opportunities for each of our students, we close the gaps of inequality and poverty, while generating economic opportunities and inclusion.These funds will directly benefit our students and, by facilitating their insertion into the workforce, will also contribute to the economic development of our island, ”said Haddock, who has promoted philanthropy as part of his work agenda with the goal of developing new opportunities for students, strengthening the link between the institution and its graduates, and raising new income. .
The UPR proposal was selected in a process among other universities across the 50 states of the United States, being chosen from a group of only 21 higher education institutions. The grant guarantees the first school in Puerto Rico the annual figure of $ 250,000 for a period of four years. In this term, 400 students will benefit, who will receive financial support through scholarships, training and training to develop skills that allow them to enter the labor market. The grant, managed with the support of the Central Administration, from the Vice-Presidency of Philanthropy, and the Faculty of Business Administration of the Pedres River Precinct, will benefit students from the 11 venues and units that study in the programs of business administration.
For his part, Dr. Luis A. Ferrao, rector of the Pedres River Precinct of the UPR, stressed that “this grant highlights again, not only the supreme relevance that our institution has for the development of our youth — arguably the most important resource for the present and future of Puerto Rico — but also the recognition of this attribute on the part of private enterprise, in this case an entity of the importance of the ‘Bank of America’.
“These resources add to the bold effort that our university puts in daily for the training of our young people for the construction of Puerto Rico that we all yearn for, a gesture of Bank of America for which we are extremely grateful,” added Ferrao .
The Vice-Presidencies of Philanthropy and External Resources are continually identifying opportunities to compete for new funds that allow for scholarships and new projects to benefit the university community.
“This is an important grant in these times of great challenges generated by the pandemic. This donation demonstrates once again the excellence and capacity of our institution for individual and collective development at the local and global level. .The grant will allow the development of workshops, training, among other resources, which translate in the short and long term into tools of knowledge and skills essential for our students to enhance their maximum development “explained the Vice President of Philanthropy, Wilma Santiago Gabrielini , stating that this is the first time that the UPR has competed for this grant. The aid goes directly to benefit students, to boost the workforce and thus the economy of our island.
President Haddock pledged to continue to identify initiatives to support students and increase the institution’s revenue. “Fostering access to the excellence education offered by the University of Puerto Rico and, with that, social mobility is part of our mission on the island,” said Haddock, who is a graduate of the ‘UPR.
In addition to the UPR, recognized institutions such as Florida International University, North Carolina A&T State University, Tennessee State University and The City University of New York – New York City, New York, were selected for the grant that totals $ 25 million.
Bank of America invests in college programs with the purpose of increasing job opportunities for minority groups in their communities, closing the income gap, and improving the careers of individuals.