MCALLEN, Texas — With its premier fundraising event of the year set for next week, the South Texas College Foundation is preparing to host a sold-out crowd of over 500 regional leaders, corporate sponsors, and education advocates at the Mission Event Center.
The fourth annual STC Foundation Gala, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, serves as the primary engine for the organization’s unrestricted support. Funds raised during the evening directly bolster critical student services, academic innovation, and emergency assistance across STC’s campuses in Hidalgo and Starr counties.
Dr. Marcos Silva, executive director of the South Texas College Foundation, sat down with the Rio Grande Guardian for a recent podcast interview to discuss the upcoming milestone event and detail how targeted philanthropic support is altering the higher education landscape across the Rio Grande Valley.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Silva said. “This is where we get unrestricted dollars and unrestricted support to really look at where the areas of the college are that we need assistance and ensure that it goes there. But also, it is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the work of the college and celebrate the work of the foundation, and know that we are doing that in community because of just how much impact this institution really creates.”
Title sponsored by South Texas Health System, the sold-out gala highlights a dramatic surge in community momentum for the foundation, which has rapidly expanded its footprint over the past four years to align private donor investments with the operational goals of the college.
While traditional scholarships remain a cornerstone of the foundation’s work, Silva emphasized that keeping students enrolled often requires addressing financial strain beyond tuition and fees.
In high-Pell-eligible communities like the Rio Grande Valley, minor unexpected expenses can interrupt a student’s academic progress. To address those gaps, the STC Foundation launched a student emergency fund nearly a year ago.
“We see that very prevalent here in our community because an outside expense like a medical bill, like a transportation issue, or a housing expense can really stop you and force you to decide: ‘Do I continue in my education or do I focus on work?’” Silva explained.
Silva cited the story of an STC student whose home caught fire mid-semester. Identified by a professor who noticed his absence, the student and his mother received immediate support through the foundation’s emergency fund, allowing him to navigate the crisis without abandoning his degree.
Supported by funding partners such as TerraGen, the Trellis Foundation, the Warren Group, and the Santa Fe Foundation, the emergency initiative operates alongside other basic-needs programs, including six food pantries operating across STC campuses.
“The resources and support that we get at the foundation are really invested in our students' well-being, in our students both in their academics and in anything outside that we can support,” Silva said. “A hungry student is not going to study or is going to worry about other things other than their classes.”
For Silva, an STC alumnus who earned his associate degree at the institution before pursuing his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate, the ROI on higher education in South Texas is both personal and quantifiable.
According to the college’s latest economic impact data, STC contributes approximately $693 million annually to the regional economy across Hidalgo and Starr counties, with alumni generating over $482 million in added income in a single year. Furthermore, one out of every 40 jobs in the region is supported by the activities of STC and its former students.
“Community support comes from understanding that a small investment into the foundation right now will multiply tenfold in the future,” Silva noted, pointing to the region's healthcare, law enforcement, construction, and public service workforces that rely heavily on STC's 100,000-plus credentialed alumni.
Silva highlighted Starr County as a prime example of the transformative nature of accessible higher education.
“Starr County is the tangible, real, greatest example... The community reflects the investment of STC there because you can see before and you can see after,” Silva said. “What was built in Starr County was an opportunity for affordable education. It is an example of what we are raised to believe — that education is an equalizer.”
To meet emerging industry workforce demands, the foundation has increasingly leveraged corporate partnerships and matching models.
A recent example includes a $100,000 endowment established by Noble Texas Builders, which was matched by the STC Foundation Board and expanded to include participating subcontractors to support students entering construction management and engineering fields. Additional corporate partners, including Will D. Wilson, actively support programs through internships, mentorships, and equipment contributions.
Silva noted that transparency remains central to the foundation’s operations.
“One of the cool things about our foundation is that all donations are really earmarked and restricted to what the donor wants. None of it right now is going into salaries — that is supported by the college,” Silva said. “The donor really tells us exactly what they want to use the money for, and we turn around and make that possible.”
Led by Foundation Board President Dr. Aletha Warren, Vice Chair Tech Collins, and College Board Liaison Paul R. Rodriguez, the foundation board continues to work closely with college leadership to identify high-impact investment opportunities.
As final preparations for Thursday's gala wrap up, Silva encouraged local businesses and residents to remain connected with the foundation’s ongoing initiatives, including upcoming events like the annual Turkey Trot benefiting campus food pantries.
“When you give to the foundation and when we invest into the college, you are fulfilling goals and you're fulfilling that ambition for thousands of students that come to STC,” Silva said. “You're investing in that for our area, our people, our cities, and our towns.”
Editor’s Note: The fourth annual South Texas College Foundation Gala takes place Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Mission Event Center. For more information regarding foundation initiatives, individual giving, or upcoming events, visit southtexascollege.edu/foundation.
