VIDA VALIENTE IS ALL ABOUT PERSEVERANCE, RESILIENCE, AND THE BRAVERY IT TAKES TO BE THE FIRST TO DIVE INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY. THE VIDA VALIENTE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET THEMSELVES THROUGH SCHOOL, BUT WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM LEADERSHIP FROM ROLE MODELS WHO GREW UP IN SIMILAR LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS. THE FOUNDATION PLEDGES TO SUPPORT 25 STUDENTS A YEAR, FOR THE ENTIRE FOUR YEARS OF THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY. THE SCHOLARS THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO OVERCOME. 90% OF FIRST GENERATION LOW INCOME STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES TAKE OVER 6 YEARS TO GRADUATE. 33% DROP OUT AFTER THREE YEARS. BETWEEN COURSES, JOBS, A LACK OF LEADERSHIP, AND THE SHEER OVERWHELMINGNESS OF LEAVING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT IS A WONDER EVEN 10% OF THESE KIDS MAKE IT. THE VIDA VALIENTE FOUNDATION IS EQUIPPED TO GIVE THESE STUDENTS THE CONFIDENCE, GRACE AND SKILLS TO CONVERT THEIR PROVEN WORK ETHIC INTO THEIR OWN SUCCESS STORIES.