Tag Archives: Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement

VIDA Helps Create New Life for Mom of Six

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Clarissa Magaña

When friends of Weslaco resident Clarissa Magaña told her about the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement, her goal suddenly seemed more viable. Acceptance into VIDA would allow her to obtain the degree she always wanted. Earning an associate degree in nursing would also be an important lesson for this single mother’s six children. Already a licensed vocational nurse, Magaña longed to return to school to become a registered nurse. …

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Young Family Finds Stability with VIDA

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Parenting happens to be one of the most difficult jobs of all. Single parenting increases that difficulty exponentially. The story of Maria Quintana exemplifies this, but her story is also one of triumph. Quintana has two young children. Unemployed, she received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for her and her children’s meals. Homeless, she and her children stayed with a friend three days a week. They then lived in her…

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Future Nurse Is Fulfilling Dreams with VIDA

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Marisol Munoz

The second oldest of five girls, Marisol Munoz has always felt, and embraced, the responsibility to serve as a role model to her younger sisters. When she graduated from the Academy of Health Science Professions in La Joya ISD, Munoz felt the true weight of that responsibility. Daughter of immigrant parents. First-generation college student. The pressure was on. In high school, Munoz completed training as a certified nurse assistant and…

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A Clear Eye on the Goal

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Michael Castilleja

Life hasn’t been easy for Brownsville resident Michael Castilleja. Raised by his grandfather, he learned the value of money at an early age because it was hard to come by. When he completed high school, he faced a number of obstacles in his pursuit to break free of the cycle of poverty but Castilleja possesses a clear understanding of the value of education. “Being in a Hispanic family in the…

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VIDA Helps Local Nurse Help Others

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Melba Gutierrez

When friends told Weslaco resident Melba Gutierrez about the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement, she listened intently. At the time, financial struggles made it difficult for her to attend nursing school full time because she had to work to help with basic necessities for herself, her partner and their two daughters — a pre-teen and a teen. Gutierrez, in her early 40s and a first-generation college student, applied to…

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Dad Changes Life Thanks to Daughter & VIDA

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George Ibarra and his daughter, Jevany.

According to the United States Census Bureau QuickFacts 2018-2022, in the four-county region of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties, an average of 67 percent of adults over the age of 25 hold a high-school diploma. A paltry average of 16 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher. While the financial burden of higher education — including tuition, books, room and board, tools and equipment, uniforms, transportation and child care…

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VIDA Aids Student & Ultimately Local Community

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Eleazar Olivarez

Eleazar Olivarez first heard about the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement when he was still in high school in Mission. At the time, his mom was enrolled as a nursing student. She heard about VIDA and told her son about it. Nearly 30 years ago, Valley Interfaith joined forces with a group of Valley business leaders who recognized the critical need to serve underserved residents of the region. They…

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VIDA Receives $100,000 from Texas Mutual

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VIDA & Texas Mutual

Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement is one of 57 nonprofits chosen as grant partners through a Texas Mutual Insurance Company development and safety training grant cycle focused on fortifying businesses to strengthen the state’s economy. These grants are part of Texas Mutual’s larger commitment of $8 million in grant funding to nonprofit organizations across the state in two categories — generational learning for working families, and workforce development and…

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Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards VIDA $60K

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VIDA/Methodist Healthcare Ministries

Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement has received a $60,000 grant from Methodist Healthcare Ministries. This contribution will allow VIDA to expand its impact and continue its essential efforts in advancing career training opportunities for allied health professionals.   The grant acknowledges the pivotal role of community organizations in driving positive transformation, addressing influential factors impacting health such as socio-economic challenges, and fostering avenues for economic advancement.  “We are immensely grateful…

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VIDA Changes Setbacks to Comebacks

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Samuel Arguelles

Samuel Arguelles had excellent role models and grew up witnessing the importance of higher education. Unfortunately, that provides no guarantee. “I am a second-generation college student; however, I lost my parents at a very young age and have been trying so hard to make them proud,” Arguellas said. His parents passed away from different forms of cancer, his dad while working on a PhD and his mom while working on…

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