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Renato Ramírez
For more than 38 years, Renato Ramirez, president and CEO of International Bank of Commerce (IBC)-Zapata, has been transforming young lives in the region surrounding his hometown and providing hope to impoverished areas across the border in Mexico. The significance of Ramirez's philanthropy goes far beyond the tremendous financial resources he has gathered and expended. His outreach is extraordinary because of its broad scope, the time he has devoted to creating community-oriented partnerships, and the fact that the benefits of his efforts will continue to be seen and felt for generations to come. Ramirez is a tireless advocate of education because his own experience has helped him understand what academic achievement can mean to the futures of children in the border region. He received an M.B.A., earned credits toward a Ph.D. and served as a university professor before returning to his South Texas roots to begin his career with IBC. Dedicated to making a difference in his hometown of Zapata and its surrounding communities, the most recent example of Ramirez's generosity is his funding of a $1 million scholarship endowment at Texas A&M International University. The effects of this partnership with the university will shape the lives of the many students who will benefit from its establishment. Ramirez was recently appointed by the Laredo Community College (LCC) Board of Trustees as one of the nine founding directors of the LCC District Education Foundation. Within the past two years, Renato has contributed $62,000 to the college for scholarships and has secured an additional $200,000 in donations. The foundation seeks to support LCC in literacy, scientific, educational and cultural undertakings. He also served as president of the Zapata County Independent School District board of trustees from 1993-1997 and remains involved with the group today. Since 1967, Ramirez and his family have sponsored a scholarship program, which offers $3,000 scholarships annually, for graduates of Zapata High School. When the Benavides Independent School District was in need of financial assistance after several institutions had denied loan requests, he worked with the school district to construct a $1.2 million loan that would keep the district functioning while allowing it to regain its financial stability. Ramirez also supports a program that offers subsidized golfing opportunities to area youth in order to provide a recreational outlet and a potential pathway to educational advancement. This program is tied to Zapata's Los Ebanos Golf Course, for which Ramirez provided 80 percent of the funding. He serves as president of the course's operational organization and has been instrumental in helping Zapata High School students receive golf scholarships at Washington State, Texas State and Texas A&M International Universities. Beyond education, Ramirez also works to address other basic needs of children. He has provided the Sacred Heart orphanage with approximately $10,000 worth of cattle to feed the 45 orphans who live there. Similarly, he supports the Casa Hogar "La Nueva Esperanza" orphanage in Ciudad Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He has provided $250,000 in funding for expansion of its facilities and helped feed the center's 25 children. His involvement goes beyond concern for their physical needs; Ramirez regularly visits the orphanages to spend time with the children. Other civic involvement includes extensive leadership and financial support to the Zapata Boys and Girls Club, which he helped establish in 1992. As a child, Renato was involved with the Laredo Boys and Girls Club and wanted to make that opportunity available to children in the Zapata area as well. He has raised more than $900,000 and donated $100,000 of his own money during a recent campaign for construction of a youth development facility for the club, which will enhance its mentoring and educational services. Additionally, Ramirez has been recognized as a platinum donor to the United Way of Laredo ($7,500 per year or more) and supports the Zapata County Fair Association and Zapata CrimeStoppers, Inc. As a means of honoring and preserving the impact of the Hispanic culture, Ramirez donates funds to the Capitol Tejano Monument effort in Austin and the National Hispanic Institute, which helps academically distinguished Hispanic high school students make the transition to major universities. He has also supported the Texas Civil Rights Project, which helps battered Hispanic migrant women in the Valley obtain better lives. A longtime supporter and facilitator of economic growth in Zapata, Ramirez, in 1984, provided 70 acres of land for the construction of a municipal airport in the city, which has spurred pervasive economic development. As a member of the Health Task Force, Ramirez also donates a considerable amount of time to working to bring a hospital district and advanced medical services to the Zapata area. Ramirez's service is unique because he has used business expertise, considerable amounts of time and numerous monetary resources to create partnerships and community support for organizations where little previously existed. His actions have ensured that organizations have retained the lifeblood financial support that has enabled them to continue their missions, be it education, personal enrichment or the cultivation of cultural pride. In addition to his other responsibilities, Ramirez devotes roughly 10 hours a week to service initiatives or charitable activities, which translates into approximately 520 hours a year. Ramirez's generous nature is spirited by a deep sense of community and he ensures that the practice of serving others extends to both his customers and his community. Renato is a champion not only of volunteerism, but also of the principle of giving. Because he continually uses all the resources at his disposal to make an impact, many lives in South Texas and Mexico have been directly affected by his efforts, but many more have been inspired to carry out their own volunteerism efforts. Because of the collective influence that his actions have had throughout the years and because of the extent to which he has contributed to the betterment of lives in South Texas and Mexico, Renato can truly be called a champion of volunteerism and philanthropy. The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Philanthropic Award for Human Rights Bernard and Audre Rapoport have worked tirelessly to protect the rights of underserved Texans for over 59 years. Because of their philanthropic contributions to the community and because of their service to others, the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Philanthropic Award for Human Rights honors those who have also tirelessly served others through philanthropic and civic leadership. We thank B and Audre for their support and involvement with the Texas Civil Rights Project and their contribution of this award. Sarah B. Buel
The Texas Civil Rights Project is proud to recognize Sarah B. Buel with the Henry B. González Award for Civil Rights. Sarah Buel has spent the past 28 years working with battered women, abused children, and juveniles within the legal system. Currently, Ms. Buel is a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas School of Law, having started, then co-directing their Domestic Violence Clinic. She also teaches "Domestic Violence and the Law," and torts courses. Ms. Buel is co-founder of the University of Texas Voices Against Violence program that has developed a system of comprehensive, coordinated services for victims of sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. She is also co-founder of the University of Texas Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault that focuses on research, pedagogy, and direct services. She serves as the faculty supervisor for the Survivor Support Network (SSN), a group of law and business students assisting abuse victims to achieve economic literacy and security; and the student group, Society Encouraging Excellence Through Diversity (SEED), that sponsors educational programs encouraging discourse, scholarship, and action on issues of race and culture. Professor Buel has served as Special Counsel for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, providing domestic violence training, technical, and case assistance to prosecutors throughout Texas. For six years she was a prosecutor, most of that time with the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office in Quincy, MA., helping to establish their award-winning domestic violence and juvenile programs. Previously, Ms. Buel served as a victim advocate, state policy coordinator, and legal aid paralegal. |
