Foundations and businesses across the Permian Basin teamed up to raise 55 million dollars, which will all be invested towards 14 IDEA public schools to Midland and Odessa by 2025.
The hefty donations include Scharbauer, Abell-Hanger and The Henry Foundations and The Permian Strategic Partnership along with other helping hands and organizations in Odessa.
Donations:
Scharbauer Foundation- $21 million
Abell-Hanger Foundation- $5.5 million
The Henry Foundation- $2 million
The Permian Strategic Partnership- $16.5 million
Up to $10 million from individuals and organizations in Odessa
According to a press release, the first campus opens in August 2020 when IDEA begins the first-of-its-kind-in-Texas partnership with MISD that will enable an opening of an IDEA Travis Academy and College Prep.
The Executive Director of Pemian Basin IDEA Bethany Solis said,
“We are honored to be a part of a community-wide effort to transform public education in the Permian Basin. Thanks to the generosity of so many supporters across Midland and Odessa, we are thrilled to offer a high-quality education to thousands of students and families from both cities.”
She also included, “We make a simple promise -- if you stick with us, you will be accepted to a college.”
Every IDEA graduate has been accepted into college every year since the first graduating class in 2007. Three out of four of IDEA’s students are the first in their families to attend college, and almost 88% are economically disadvantaged.
