FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR IME SCHOLARSHIPS BEGINS 

The Foreign Ministry reports that a fundraising campaign for the "For a Better Life" IME scholarships began today in the United States. This is an innovative effort to augment institutional efforts to assist Mexicans in the U.S. with their education.  Over the next three months, those wishing to donate funds to this program may make contributions of five and ten dollars by sending text messages (SMS) with their cell phones.

The donations will be collected by the Mobile Giving Foundation and channeled directly to educational institutions by the nonprofit organization Hispanic Scholastic Funds Consortium.  The Mexican consulates in the United States will facilitate and promote the campaign in support of the IME scholarship program.

Since its inception in 2005, IME scholarships (http://becas.ime.gob.mx) have gone to more than 30,000 students and contribute to the efforts of the Mexican communities abroad to improve their lives. The Mexican government has earmarked ten million pesos a year for this program, in addition to private donations to the participating educational institutions and social organizations.

The campaign was launched at a press conference at the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles. The event was attended by the Executive Director of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad and the consuls of Mexico in the metropolitan Los Angeles area. Also present were Assemblyman Gil Cedillo and key members of the Mexican community, businessmen, representatives of educational institutions and IME scholarship students.

To donate by cell phone from anywhere in the U.S. (not from Mexico):

Text BECAS to 20222 to donate US$5 dollars

Text ESTUDIA to 20222 to donate US$10 dollars