FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chanhassen, MN — 2025 — The Vamos! Scholarship, a grassroots volunteer-led initiative founded by Juan Llerena, proudly celebrates a decade of service and impact in 2025. What began as a small fundraising idea has grown into a community movement that has awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to Latino students and generated more than $50,000 in estimated social impact through volunteer efforts.
A special night to remember! At Chanhassen High School’s Scholarship Awards Night awarding Vamos! Scholarships to two outstanding young Latinas beginning their college journeys.
Congratulations to our Chanhassen 2025 Vamos! Scholarship Recipients: Lucero Quintero Ponce, and Allyson M. Cruz
Vamos! Scholarship addresses the ongoing educational gap for Latino students in Minnesota with two clear goals:
1. Provide financial support to Latino students pursuing higher education and send a clear message that the Carver County community believes in their potential.
2. Elevate the narrative around the positive contributions of the Latino community to Minnesota’s cultural and economic fabric.
“We are united by one belief: if you know there’s a problem worth solving, you must act,” said Juan Llerena, Founder and Organizer of Vamos! Scholarship. “For 10 years, we’ve come together — volunteers, businesses, nonprofits, faith groups, and neighbors — to build bridges, remove barriers, and offer a helping hand.”
Vamos! is powered by people. Entirely volunteer-run and community-driven, the effort welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, free from political or religious bias, committed to building welcoming, inclusive, and opportunity-rich communities.
Major thanks go to Americana Community Bank, our Sustainable Sponsor, for their ongoing commitment to creating a stronger, more equitable Minnesota. If you’re considering banking products in Carver County or beyond, we encourage you to support businesses that invest in local impact.
To celebrate this milestone and continue the momentum, Vamos! is seeking new partners and supporters. Whether through financial contributions, networking connections, or the power of your platform, you can be part of creating opportunities that last a lifetime.
To support or get involved, contact:
Juan Llerena, Founder and Organizer
Email: juan@jllbmedia.com
Website: https://vamosmn.jllbmedia.com
Vamos! Scholarship is a 501(c)(3) initiative with the District 112 Foundation as its fiscal sponsor. Donations are tax deductible as allowed per the law.
Together, we say: ¡Vamos por más!
