Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI), a Virginia nonprofit that creates college pathways for Latino high school students and is celebrating its “Million Dollar Año,” has received a major gift from the Herndon Foundation in Richmond to support its mission there.
The Herndon Foundation, which has awarded SLI grants each year since 2021, was established in 1965 by Floyd D. Gottwald Jr. and Elisabeth S. Gottwald. Its funding priorities are health and human services, historic preservation and cultural experiences, and education, including school readiness and extended learning and enrichment outside of school.
SLI’s mission is to support Latino/a/x high school students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships. It does this by collaborating with high school and university faculty, staff, and students, offering out-of-school programs for its “SLI scholars” in Harrisonburg, Winchester, and Richmond, where programming is led by SLI founder Peter Iver Kaufman, who holds the George Matthews & Virginia Brinkley Modlin Chair in Leadership Studies, Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond and Ester Orellana, the LIEP/MLS department chair at Huguenot High School.
“SLI taught me how to handle responsibilities independently, especially through learning to write essays and manage my own workload,” said SLI alum Isabella, who is now studying finance and business in college. “It gave me a preview of college life and prepared me to stay organized and confident in my abilities. Additionally, it helped me understand how to approach challenges by working through them step by step and staying focused, which I know will be valuable as I pursue a career.”
With generous funding from its community of support of individuals, businesses, and foundations such as the Herndon Foundation, SLI creates college scholarships, tech grants, and other financial assistance opportunities for SLI scholars and alumni. In 2026, SLI anticipates surpassing one million dollars in total awards to its scholars — a milestone that reflects both the organization’s growth and the generosity of its community of supporters.
“This gift from the Herndon Foundation is a profound affirmation of the students who are SLI scholars,” said SLI board chair Fawn-Amber Montoya, PhD, a professor of history at James Madison University. “It will significantly help provide opportunities for them to pursue meaningful fields of study and successful careers, and ultimately make Richmond an even better place.”
Since its incorporation in 2012 SLI has served more than 225 students and awarded them more than $917,300 to attend 29 colleges and universities.