Many only think of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as a late winter festival featuring all things traditionally Texan, mixed in with loads of star-studded music and fun. However, the HLS&R is actually more then “The Show”, it is in fact a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to benefiting youth, supporting education, and facilitating better agricultural through its exhibitions and presentations. And its charitable reach extends far further then you might expect – including $18.8 million to Texas education programs and youth for the 2011-12 year.
As part of that support, this Wednesday HLS&R officials announced a $1.5 million contribution to two Houston Independent School District educational programs as part of the Show’s continued commitment to Texas youth. In total, the Show will award $1 million to the HISD Foundation in support of the Apollo 20 Program, plus an additional $500,000 for the district’s literacy program.
“This is a huge opportunity for the Show to partner with HISD. Most of our scholarship winners come from the district, so it’s literally an investment in our future,” said Skip Wagner, president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “Our goals are aligned, in that our biggest priority is getting kids out of high school and prepared for college, and that must start at an early age.”
And earlier in August HLS&R provided over 9 million in scholarships to nearly 2000 young people attending Texas colleges. Though the Show promotes agriculture and Western heritage, HLS&R scholarships are for students from any background and with any choice of college major — no agriculture required. Students with majors ranging from accounting to biomedical science, and criminal justice to education, are currently pursuing their dreams on a HLS&R scholarship.
But HLS&R contributions also reach beyond education. Other significant donations were made this year to the Alley Theatre, Baylor College of Medicine – BRASS, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Leadership for Tomorrow, Houston Symphony, Museum of Fine Arts Houston – Glassell, Texas Aerospace Scholars, Neuhaus Education Center, and Theater Under The Stars, plus other local and statewide educational programs.