MACE

Berenson Injury Law Sponsors Tarrant County MACE Scholarships

Berenson Injury Law has given over $10,000 in college scholarships to students at Rufino Mendoza Elementary School since 2015. Our firm provides these scholarships through the Mexican American College Endowment (MACE), an exceptional organization in Fort Worth. Scholarships reward Tarrant County Hispanic students for achievements in history, math, science and leadership.

In addition to receiving a $500 college scholarship in the fifth grade, the students also earn entry into future competitions for additional scholarship funds if they maintain excellent grades and high standards. Therefore,this one scholarship acts as incentive for promising students to keep studying hard and reaching for the best the student can do.

I present the scholarships at the Rufino Mendoza Elementary School graduation ceremony, an event that is one of my favorites each year. Each scholarship recipient receives a ball cap with the logo of the school the student aspires to attend — usually Texas Christian University, the University of Texas, University of North Texas, Texas A&M, and even Harvard and Stanford. The scholarship certificate and ball caps provide the students with reminders of their goals — if they work hard they can earn funding for their college education.

About the Mexican American College Endowment

Mexican American College Endowment rewards students who have strong academic and leadership qualities with college scholarships. The nonprofit organization was established in 1970 by a group of activists who wanted to provide role models and mentoring to Hispanic students to encourage them to attend college. In its first year, MACE presented six outstanding students with $100 scholarships. Today, the organization’s influence has grown. MACE now awards about 100 students a total of $50,000 in scholarships each year.

Initially, MACE gave scholarships to high school students, like most other scholarship programs. However, MACE expanded its scholarship program in 2015 to include elementary school students. Berenson Injury Law began offering scholarships to Rufino Mendoza Elementary School that first year and is excited to have continued providing this opportunity every year since.

Why Supporting MACE is Important

More than 50 million Latinos live in the United States, and Latinos are the fastest growing population in the country. Unfortunately, one out of four live in poverty, putting college out of reach for many. In fact, only 13 percent of Latinos earn a bachelor’s or a higher degree. Programs like MACE give Hispanic students encouragement and financial assistance to attend college and to enjoy greater opportunities throughout life.

Why Our Firm “Adopted” Rufino Mendoza Elementary School Class

I adopted the Rufino Mendoza Elementary School in 2005 when I read about the Fort Worth Independent School District Adopt-A-School program.

Through this excellent program, I have the pleasure of interacting with its promising students and outstanding teachers and staff. In addition to the MACE scholarship program, I am involved in numerous activities at the school including:

• Talking to students during Career Day about my experiences as a lawyer and other career paths they might be interested in
• Assisting students with homework problems and encouraging them to study hard
• Encouraging physical fitness during field days and while running and walking with students during recess periods
• Promoting healthy eating habits by discussing the benefits of eating well and sharing nutritious snacks
• Supporting students who enter 5K races, by helping them train, cheering them on and paying for running shoes and registration fees
• Purchasing books for the school library and other needed supplies
• Encouraging students to work hard and dream big

Berenson Injury Law is Proud to Serve the Dallas-Fort Worth Community

Auto accident lawyer Bill Berenson founded his law firm in Fort Worth almost 40 years ago. He considers community service to be an integral aspect of his firm. He is especially dedicated to mentoring young people and helping them achieve their dreams.

If you are interested in helping students attend college, you can donate to MACE here.

For a free consultation on a legal claim, contact Berenson Injury Law.