SoCal Couple Donates $7 Million for Hispanic Leadership Institute

By BEA KARNES (Patch Staff)

In an effort to get more Hispanics into first tier colleges and universities in this country, Southern California couple Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros have donated $7 million to George Washington University to create the GW Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute.

The institute will offer a pre-college program to high school juniors, with plus-factor consideration given to students of Hispanic heritage who are committed to leadership and service within the Hispanic community. Prior to their senior year in high school, students from around the country will participate in a summer workshop in Washington, D.C., and will learn about the fundamentals of enrolling at selective universities. In addition, they will engage in a variety of activities and experiences designed to increase their knowledge and interest in attending and graduating from a top university.

The institute will also provide college scholarships to students, to be named Cisneros Scholars, who enroll at GWU and demonstrate a commitment to leadership and community service and have aspirations to give back to the Hispanic community.

Within four years, the university hopes to enroll 20 Cisneros Scholars. Each entering class of students will be granted at least $250,000 in scholarships, which are renewable for four years. The university will welcome the first class of high school scholars in the summer of 2016.

Jacki and Gilbert Cisneros started a foundation that promotes Hispanic education after becoming millionaires in the Mega Millions lottery. They were living in Pico Rivera when good fortune struck. They now live in Newport Beach. Gil is a GWU alum.

--Photo via The Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation