Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund Sets $100K Fundraising Goal, Announces Application Requirements

Orlando, FL, March 16, 2010 – When the mother of a teenage Puerto Rican girl was looking
desperately for scholarships to college and found the process nearly impossible 10 years ago,
Lizette Valarino, assistant to Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, realized the need for local
educational support for others like her. That overwhelming experience created the beacon of light
that Central Florida enjoys today – the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando.

To kick-off the next 10 years, the HHSFMO will preview its vision for 2010-11 on Tuesday, March 30
at 9 a.m. at the Disney Entrepreneur Center, One Landmark Center, 315 E. Robinson Street, Suite
100, Orlando. The morning meeting will allow college financial services representatives, counselors
and media to meet the new board of directors and learn about the 2010 application process with the
unveiling of their new website.

HHSFMO is the largest non-profit organization in Central Florida dedicated to providing
scholarships to Hispanic students pursuing a college or university degree. This year, they have
once again pledged to award $100,000 in scholarships. Recipients can earn up to $5,000 annually
toward their college education. To apply, students must:

• Be of Hispanic descent
• Have a 3.0 GPA
• Have been accepted into a Central Florida college/university
• Have submitted a FAFSA to local college
• Fill out HHSF application (beginning April 1 – May 31)
• Submit essay

“We have been fortunate to have awarded $400,000 in scholarships to some extraordinary students
over the past 10 years,” said Lizette Valarino, executive director of the Heritage Scholarship Fund of
Metro Orlando. “Their resilient stories of dedication, commitment and passion for education are a
source of inspiration for our entire community. Who knows, we may be helping to fund the education
of a future U.S. president, Supreme Court Justice, or astronaut.”

Upon completion of their college degrees, some successful HHSFMO scholarship recipients have
become attorneys, researchers, community organizers, assistant professors, pediatric speech
therapists, and police officers among others. To date, the generosity of corporate sponsors has
allowed 134 outstanding Hispanic students to continue on their road to a bright future at Central
Florida colleges.

*Some of those shining examples will be available for interviews.
*Students interested in applying for a HHSFMO scholarship can download the application beginning
April 1, 2010.