SPARTANBURG, S.C. (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Denny's (NASDAQ: DENN) has announced that through its partnership with the Hispanic College Fund, Inc. (HCF), it has awarded the Denny's Single Parent Scholarship to 30 Hispanic students across the country.
"The Denny's Single Parent Scholarship initiative is providing much needed financial support to individuals who strive to better their future and that of their children through higher education," said Idalia Fernandez, president of the Hispanic College Fund. "We are very pleased to partner with Denny's to ensure that these students are not denied the opportunity to pursue their dreams because they are single parents."
"Denny's is proud to help young Hispanics working towards a higher education and we congratulate this year's scholarship winners," said April Kelly-Drummond, director of corporate diversity at Denny's. "Education can be the key to unlocking exciting opportunities. For eight years, Denny's has supported young Hispanics in their quest for a college degree."
To qualify for the scholarship, students had to be a single parent and demonstrate that they are seriously pursuing a college degree as a full-time student and be in good academic standing with a minimum grade point average of a 3.0.
Denny's eight year partnership with HCF has helped more than 400 Hispanic students realize their educational goals by providing over $660,000 in scholarships. This is the first year of the Single Parent Scholarship program.
"I was very excited to hear that I was selected for this scholarship," said Veronica Trejo, a junior. The finance major maintains a 3.73 GPA at The University of the Incarnate Word. "I am 33 years old and a single mother of two young girls and this takes a burden off of our shoulders. Being a single parent has been difficult and trying at times, but I am honored Denny's is willing to extend a helping hand to those single parents who struggle to get by every day."
Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals. For 15 years, the Hispanic College Fund has provided educational, scholarship, and mentoring programs to students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, establishing a career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics who are trained in the fields of business, science, technology, engineering and math.
The Hispanic College Fund has an annual budget of $6 million with 20 full-time employees. In 2006, the Hispanic College Fund received the Brillante award for "Nonprofit of the Year" from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and in 2007 was recognized by USA Today as one of the nation's top 25 charities. In 2009, the organization was honored with Charity Navigator's highest rating for non-profit management and financial responsibility.
Denny's is America's largest full-service family restaurant chain, with more than 1,500 locations. For more than 50 years, Denny's has been serving up real breakfast 24/7. Home of the famous Grand Slam(R) breakfasts, Denny's provides a variety of flavorful food and beverage choices.
SOURCE: Denny's