Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Shenandoah Valley Scholars Latino Initiative Inc
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: Scholars Latino Initiative
Mailing Address: PO Box 1245
City: Harrisonburg
State: VA
Postal Code: 22803
Main Phone: 540-212-9412
Main Fax:
Organization Website: vasli.org
Employer ID Number: 45-5560300
Organization Tax Status: 501c3 tax-exempt

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 2/20/2026
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: College Access for Latinx Students
Project Description:

SLI’s mission is to support Latino/a/x high school students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships.

The original SLI was founded by Peter Iver Kaufman and others in 2001 at UNC Chapel Hill. In 2008 Kaufman brought SLI to the University of Richmond, Virginia, and later to the Shenandoah Valley, where this organization was incorporated in 2012 and then achieved 501(c)(3) status.

SLI is a collaboration with high school and university faculty, staff, and students to offer out-of-school, college access programs for high school students in Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester. With private support from its donors, SLI creates college scholarships, tech grants, and other financial assistance opportunities for SLI scholars and alumni. Since 2012 SLI has served 223 scholars (67 current and 156 alumni) and awarded students more than $917,300. SLI alumni have attended 29 colleges and universities.

As SLI alumni have shared:

"SLI allowed me to have a community in which others understand what it is like to be a first-generation student. They also provided me with the support and information necessary to move forward as a student with no previous ties to any college. They guided me through the process of understanding how to apply, breaking down the FAFSA application, and even allowed us to spend time in person at college campuses in order to understand what we were planning on doing and to make connections with potential professors."

"SLI prepared me for college through its Early College lectures which helped me gain the necessary discussion skills for my discussion sections in college. The Early College experience also allowed me to observe college classes in high school and see how they compared to high school."

Total Project Budget: $333,935

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Additional funding is being cultivated through ongoing development efforts to garner support from the SLI Community of Support (vasli.org/community) through grants, donations, event sponsorships, and more.

Project Duration: 2027 (calendar year)
Geographical Area Served: Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester, Virginia
Age Group To Be Served: 14-21

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Christopher
Contact Last Name: Clymer Kurtz
Contact Title: Director of Development
Contact Phone: 540-212-9412
Contact Email: development@vasli.org