You can change the life of a young person in your community forever this summer. Help send talented high school students from across our region to the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium.

MDHYS brings Maryland and DC high school students together Hispanic professionals and Hispanic Youth Symposium staff to give them the motivation and resources to go to college and pursue a professional career.

Our students are from families of modest means. Sixty percent will be the first in their family to attend college. While all are bright, few have the role models or resources to go to college.

In just four days, MDHYS changes all that. Students spend time with Hispanic professionals who can show them what they can become -- doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in other professions. Often the students form long-term mentoring relationships with these Hispanic leaders.

In MDHYS workshops, students get the knowledge and resources to turn their dreams into a college degree. They learn how to:

• choose and apply to a college
• handle an admissions interview
• obtain scholarships
• complete the financial aid form
• become a success in their freshman year

MDHYS works: 83% of our students have earned or are working toward a degree, 64% of them a bachelor's.

As one of our alums explains, "Attending the Symposium changed my perspective on my future in more than one way. Before going, I was completely lost to the whole application process. I didn't know anything about scholarships or grants. But the Symposium made me realize that I had much more potential then I gave myself credit for. When I left, I decided to branch out, get involved and put myself out there. As a result I earned a scholarship and grant opportunities."

Another component of MDHYS is to give back to the community. The students learn by the example set by the professionals who volunteer at the Symposium. These leaders explain how community service helped them share their success with friends and neighbors who may not have had the same opportunities.

But I need your help today to make the MDHYS experience possible for young Hispanics in Maryland and DC. It costs $1,000 per attendee and most of our students are able to come because of scholarships made possible by people like you. Please make a tax-deductible gift of $25, $50, $100 or more today to send students to this summer's Symposium.

Make a tax-deductible donation today to send a young scholar to the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium!