40 Hours for the Forty Acres 2020

Who We Are

Started in 1991 as a way to introduce children to the college environment, the Neighborhood Longhorns Program (NLP) aims to increase retention rates, improve grade performance and provide unique campus experiences for economically disadvantaged students in Austin area Title I elementary and middle schools.

Through a unique partnership with Austin Independent School District, the program inspires students to succeed and offers them opportunities to experience The University of Texas at Austin firsthand. Each year, NLP serves over 5,500 students in 39 participating schools and encourages them to put their lives on an educational track through tutoring, incentives, scholarships and campus visits.

What We’re Fundraising For

The Neighborhood Longhorns Program seeks funding to provide scholarships for students that meet certain criteria each school year. A $100 scholarship is awarded to those participating students who earn at least an 85 (or 3) in every class, complete their school’s reading component, and have excellent attendance. Students qualify for a scholarship each year they are enrolled in the program and meet the criteria. When a student graduates from high school and attends an institution of higher learning, the earned funds are distributed in the form of a scholarship. If a student attends The University of Texas at Austin, the Neighborhood Longhorns Program will match the amount earned in the program.

Your Impact

Your support ensures the academic success of students in the Neighborhood Longhorns Program by providing opportunities that motivate students to reach their full potential. Most students participating in the program come from economically disadvantaged or historically underrepresented families in which a college education may not seem feasible or necessary. When parents have not attended college—and often may not have completed high school—a student might never consider the possibility of attaining a higher education. Not only does the Neighborhood Longhorns Program expose them to a university experience in which they are made to feel welcome, the program also provides student participants with the opportunity to earn a scholarship based on their performance. By providing a modest scholarship to students that graduate high school and enroll in college, the program demonstrates at an early age that a college education is a worthwhile pursuit and sets them on a path to success.

Your gift to the Neighborhood Longhorns Program helps at-risk students realize that they are 100% college material. Hook ‘em on Education!