Burqueños for Education and Empowerment (BEE) Celebrate One Year Anniversary and 501(c)(3) Status
BEE’s 1st Year: A Reflection
BEE Founder's Matthew Salas, Jorge Hernandez and Julian Moya meet for the first time to discuss BEE.
On February 5th, 2014, Matthew Salas emailed Jorge Hernandez and Julian Moya, two people he respects, trusts, and consider great friends. The email was in regards to an idea he had been sitting on for a few months. He wanted to start a non-profit to help students with college costs.
“I had personally witnessed the stress from students trying to pay for the increasing costs of college. And I got fed up and decided to do something about it,” says Salas, BEE President and co-founder.
On April 10th, Salas, Moya, and Hernandez officially met for the first time to discuss BEE.
“I thought it was a great idea and phenomenal opportunity to give back to our community,” says Hernandez, BEE co-founder and Vice President. “I personally didn't have to pay a whole lot out of my pocket for my college education but I saw so many friends and family that would have excelled in college but didn't attend because they couldn't afford it.”
Since its inception one year ago, BEE has accomplished a tremendous amount including attaining 501(c)3 tax-exempt status a day shy of its one year anniversary.
Moya, co-founder and current Board Member of BEE, said he was “expecting some growing pains and a slow first year.” However, he was very pleased on how the first year went for the non-profit, saying BEE’s first year “far exceeded my expectations. We've raised more money than I expected and have brought more awareness to our community about education.”
BEE has hosted three fundraisers since September and has raised enough money to supply numerous scholarships to students from around Albuquerque. The first set of scholarships will be awarded this May.
“Providing money to students with a desire for education is BEE’s ultimate goal,” said Salas. Awarding scholarships, says Moya, “shows the support that we have from our community.”
BEE members at a fundraiser. Pictured: Natalie Salas (secretary), Jorge Hernandez (VP), Matthew Salas (Pres.), Julian Moya (Board Member), Cydelia Chavez (Member), Jackie Valdez (Member), Jerry Sprouse (Treasurer)
The organization is currently made up of 11 members, including five new members of the recently formed BEE Scholarship Award Panel.
BEE wants to further expand and provide more scholarships to current students and even those individuals hoping to return to college.
“We want to reach as many students as we possibly can,” says Salas. In addition to providing scholarships, BEE will venture into community service to further interact with the Albuquerque community on a personal level.