Long time donors created the Bob Briddick endowed scholarship to honor one our founding members who has donated hundreds of hours of his time to the Houston LGBTQIA+ community. OutReach United and Bob Briddick believe that investing in the LGBTQIA+ community strengthens both individuals in the community and the community itself. The Bob Briddick permanent endowment scholarship upholds this mission by investing in the education of local LGBTQIA+ students.

The Douglas Allen Upchurch Endowed Scholarship was created by Doug’s partner, Charles Dillard, and his parents, Don and Susan Upchurch. The endowment was fully funded in less than a year by his many friends and loved ones from across the US, a testament to the kind and wonderful person that Doug was.

The Hollyfield Foundation is a local non-profit created in honor of Jay Hollyfield, a native Houstonian who, during his life, was a passionate and tireless advocate of gay and lesbian causes. The mission of the Hollyfield Foundation, as stated in their mission, is to “…foster[s] and protect[s] individual rights and freedoms by providing direct and indirect funding to qualifying 501©3 organizations that work to prevent discrimination, educate and secure equal rights for sexual minorities and assist in health care issues for the community, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS education, care and treatment.”. The Hollyfield Foundation has been a consistent and strong supporter of Out for Education and its students since the beginning; Their generous donations continue to impact LGBTQIA+ students through their named scholarship and endowment.

The John Danielson Memorial endowed scholarship is in memory of community leader John Danielson, III. John generously supported many local non-profits by opening his beautiful home, hosting fundraisers, for any who needed a venue.His widower, along with the various organizations that John supported, wanted to keep his legacy of selflessly giving to improve his adopted hometown continue—They decided to hold a fundraiser to create an endowed scholarship in his honor. The event was huge success, thanks to the generosity of John’s friends and the Houston LGBTQIA+ community, John’s endowment was fully funded in one night. Since the creation of the endowment, John’s legacy of generous support lives on the lives of the students who are awarded scholarship money from his endowment.

Kenner Harris is a Houston engineer who wished to support students who are majoring in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical (STEM) fields. His endowed scholarship is awarded to students majoring in one of these areas; his endowment provides financial support to students who share Kenner’s passion for these subjects.

Juan F. Lerma and Marvin Y. Fuentes come from immigrant families and both are the first in their families to graduate from college. Both hold degrees in Finance and work in the Energy Industry. Juan was an Out for Education recipient during his days college.

When Juan and Marvin met, they realized they both had a sincere interest in being involved within the community by giving back or volunteering. They both served on the board of Out for Education for a period of time. They then decided to establish an endowment as a means to give back to the LGBTQ+ community by investing in its future and by using this opportunity to highlight that it is possible for two gay immigrant kids to go to college, be out and proud, have a career, build a life with someone and be happy!

Liz Happel was a loving parent and dedicated teacher, and also an amazing woman who touched the lives of so many people. As a mother of four (including two gay sons) and a friend to many LGBTQ+ individuals, she lived a joyful life committed to inclusivity, diversity, and loving everyone as they were. A group of dear friends established the Liz Leonard Happel Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor her memory and her lifelong commitment to education and inclusivity.

Luigi Major, a Houston hospitality consultant, wanted to support the Houston LGBTQIA+ community but was unsure how until he learned of Out for Education and was moved by the organization’s mission. Luigi started donating to the organization—eventually he decided that he wanted to make an even bigger impact for the scholars by increasing his donations and creating and endowed scholarship. The scholarship was completely funded within two years; Luigi’s generosity has, and will continue, to positively support and impact Out for Education scholarship recipients.

Terry Hamman was a beloved family member and a never-to-be-forgotten member of the Houston LGBTQ community whose gift was to make each person feel uniquely special. Terry had a passion for education and worked for many years as a special education teacher in the area of assistive technology where he touched the lives of thousands differently abled students and individuals, offering options to improve their communication, reading and writing skills, and quality of life. Terry was a loyal supporter of many local artists and the Houston arts community. He served as President of EPAH – the Executive and Professional Association of Houston, a professional and social organization for the LGBTQ community. He was active in the Diana Foundation, a leading philanthropic LGBTQ organization. Terry was known for his radiant smile that would light up a room. His energy and joy were unmatched, and he was deeply loved by many. This scholarship honors Terry’s memory and his many contributions.

The Tom Fricke permanent endowment scholarship was created by the associate publisher of the award-winning Houston LGBTQIA+ publication, OutSmart Magazine. Tom Fricke has been a generous supporter of Out for Education and decided to create a lasting legacy with the organization in 2016 with a permanent endowment. His ongoing support, both through his work at OutSmart Magazine and this endowment, will continue to impact LGBTQIA+ individuals and the Houston LGBTQIA+ community itself.

After the first Tom Fricke endowed scholarship was funded a second was started! The Tom Fricke permanent endowment scholarship was created by the associate publisher of the award-winning Houston LGBTQIA+ publication, OutSmart Magazine. Tom Fricke has been a generous supporter of Out for Education and decided to create a lasting legacy with the organization in 2016 with a permanent endowment. His ongoing support, both through his work at OutSmart Magazine and this endowment, will continue to impact LGBTQIA+ individuals and the Houston LGBTQIA+ community itself.