Clorox And The Hispanic Scholarship Fund Award Five Students With $12,000 Scholarship

USA - English

• Latin America - español

OAKLAND, Calif., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Mother's Day, today the makers of Clorox® bleach and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) announced the five winners who paid special tribute to their own mothers' through the Gracias Mama scholarship program. From nearly 5,000 applications received, each of the five winning high school seniors has been awarded a $12,000 scholarship to attend an accredited U.S. university in the 2012-2013 school year, as well as a $500 spa day certificate for their mother or mother figure.

The Gracias Mama scholarship program not only recognizes students' achievements, but also acknowledged their moms by asking applicants to create a 500-word essay detailing the role their mother or mother figure has played in their academic success.

"Clorox is proud to partner with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund in creating such a successful scholarship program honoring a mother's unconditional support," said Colleen Schweichler, Marketing Manager - Clorox Laundry Division. "With this unique program, five remarkable students will now receive financial aid to enroll in college and fulfill their dreams and their moms' hopes for a brighter future."  

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund applauds Clorox's initiative to stimulate higher education among U.S. Hispanics.

"Clorox investment in the Hispanic Scholarship Fund will help many Latino students and their families realize the goal of a college education," said Frank D. Alvarez, President and CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.  "This partnership will help us move closer to our vision of putting a college degree in every Latino household."

As part of the Gracias Mama scholarship program, 15 finalists, chosen based on HSF's general eligibility criteria and the quality of their essay, received a camera and captured in video how their mother or mother figure has encouraged them to pursue a higher education. The videos were posted on Clorox Latino's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cloroxlatino to encourage Facebook members to support their favorite finalists by liking and sharing the videos with family and friends.

The five recipients of the $12,000 Gracias Mama scholarships and the $500 certificates for their mom or mother figure are:  

• Viviana Altamirano – Santa Ana, CA
• Amanda Carreno – Palmdale, CA
• Lucia Garcia – Compton, CA
• Emilia Iglesias – Livonia, MI
• Nicole Sena – Fort Sumner, NM

To learn more about the Gracias Mama scholarship recipients and their stories, please visit www.facebook.com/cloroxlatino.

The Clorox Company 
The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with 8,100 employees and fiscal year 2011 revenues of $5.2 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Green Works® naturally derived home care products, Pine-Sol® cleaners, Poett® home care products, Fresh Step® cat litter, Kingsford® charcoal, Hidden Valley® and KC Masterpiece® dressings and sauces, Brita® water-filtration products, Glad® bags, wraps and containers, and Burt's Bees® and gud™ natural personal care products. Nearly 90 percent of Clorox Company brands hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories. The company's products are manufactured in more than two dozen countries and marketed in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $84 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal year 2011 alone, the foundation awarded $4 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $13 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.

About Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund believes that the country prospers when all Americans have access to the opportunities a college education can afford.  As the nation's leading Hispanic higher education fund, HSF works to address the barriers that keep many Latinos from earning a college degree. To date, HSF has awarded over $360 million in scholarships and has supported a broad range of outreach and education programs to help students and their families navigate collegiate life, from gaining admission and securing financial aid to finding employment after graduation.  HSF envisions a future where every Latino household will have at least one college graduate, creating an enduring impact on the college outlook of Latino families nationwide, and strengthening the American economy for generations to come. For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund please visit: www.HSF.net.

SOURCE The Clorox Company