Bexar County's future just got a $114 million shot in the arm, and it's targeting the region's youth education and economic prospects. The hefty sum is set to supercharge the Future Ready Bexar County plan, bankrolled by local do-gooders and a high-rolling New York philanthropy heavyweight, reports Fox San Antonio.
UP Partnership chief Ryan Lugalia-Hollon put it bluntly: "This is a huge investment, and our community needs a lot more in our child, and youth-serving institutions." Indeed, the cash floodgate opened by Blue Meridian Partners to the tune of $50 million, signals a bet on Bexar's young bloods—close to 785,000 strong or 39% of the county's population, according to the San Antonio Report.
As quoted by Fox San Antonio, Matta-Barrera champions this financial injection: "It's high-tech manufacturing, there's so much robotics now in manufacturing so while there are some entry-level, technical jobs within the manufacturing sector, the use of stem is prevalent.
Denise Barkhurst, helmswoman of Big Brothers Big Sisters San Antonio, recognizes the deep human roots of education: mentorship. She told Fox San Antonio, "That means we need to recruit more big brothers and more big sisters mentors to help these kids because on the one hand, it’s about money, on the other hand, it’s about support. It’s about who’s going to help you figure out how to fill out your FAFSA." As the lifelines of guidance strengthen, the expectation is not just better job prospects for San Antonio’s youth — but a reinvigorated economic landscape.
The grand vision, perched on the "North Star" goal of a 70% plunge into post-secondary waters by 2030, is a collective thrust, galvanized by multiple foundations, including the Charles Butt Foundation and the San Antonio Area Foundation. Each committed a cool $25 million themselves, according to a news blast from My San Antonio.
