H-E-B's Butt pledges $50 million more to education efforts
One of Texas’ most prominent philanthropists made another splash Monday, pledging $50 million to a program that will train public school teachers.
Student teacher Antonio Salmeron teaches a class as part of the UTeach Program at UT-Austin on July 10, 2017.
Austin Price / The Texas Tribune
Charles Butt, the chairman and CEO of H-E-B and one of Texas’ most prominent philanthropists, made another splash Monday, pledging $50 million to a program that will train public school teachers.
The donation comes in the form of a new scholarship program, Raising Texas Teachers, which will be run by the Butt-founded Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation. Ten schools, including the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Texas at Dallas, will receive funding this year for student scholarships. Eventually, the program will give 500 college students $8,000 per year to help them pursue teaching certifications.
“To improve academic achievement, it is critical that Texas elevate the status of the teaching profession, strengthen the existing pool of aspiring teachers, and inspire our most talented high school graduates to consider a career in teaching,” Butt said in a news release.
Earlier this year, Butt, the billionaire leader of the Texas-based grocery chain, pledged an additional $100 million to the creation of the Holdsworth Center, a nonprofit that works with state school districts to strengthen their leadership programs. H-E-B's Butt pledges $50 million more to education efforts | The Texas Tribune:
