Celebrating Growth & Impact: Girls of Legacy – RC Blog July 2025
- Chris Lopez
- Jul 1
- 5 min read
Back in March 2022, I launched the Girls of Legacy Scholarship and Mentorship Program through my nonprofit, LaunchPad, right here in Austin, Texas. This initiative was born out of a desire to uplift high school girls from underserved Title 1 schools—empowering them to pursue higher education and build meaningful career paths.
We began by selecting standout seniors from two schools: Round Rock’s alternative Success High School and Crockett High School in Austin. These young women—driven, resilient, and full of potential—represent the next generation of leaders. Their dreams are as diverse as they are: from science and technology to business, cosmetology, dental school, journalism, the arts, and more.
Through the program, each scholar—whether just starting out in community college or already navigating their second or third year at a university—is matched with a mentor from Austin’s professional and business community. These monthly coaching and mentorship sessions are designed to offer both guidance and encouragement, helping them stay on track as they pursue their goals. This one-on-one support system reflects my own journey and the life-changing influence of mentors throughout my career.
As long as students remain enrolled, maintain their grades, and stay active in their development and mentorship journey, they continue to qualify for ongoing scholarship support each academic year. The generous contributions raised through our annual fundraisers have helped make college—and career training—a reality for these deserving young women.
Special highlights from the last year of making an impact through GOL:
In May 2024, my husband David and I honored our Girls of Legacy students at Success High School by presenting each student with a $4,000 scholarship. The ceremony celebrated their academic achievements and showcased the ongoing commitment of the mentorship program to empower young women from Title I schools. It was a moment of pride, purpose, and promise—as these remarkable students move forward toward college and career success.
Later that month, we joyfully celebrated two exceptional Girls of Legacy students at Success High School’s graduation ceremony in Round Rock. The moment was a heartfelt culmination of their hard work, resilience, and dedication—supported by the LaunchPad initiative and mentorship program. These graduates not only completed their high school journeys but also stepped confidently toward their college and career dreams, embodying the core mission of Girls of Legacy.
The 2024 Girls of Legacy Fundraiser Gala, held on June 20th at the historic Headliners Club in downtown Austin, brought together community leaders, mentors, and generous supporters to invest in the future of our 12 remarkable GOL girls. With a fundraising goal of $25,000, the evening exceeded all expectations—raising a total of $50,000 in scholarships, thanks to a successful dollar-for-dollar match. The night was filled with inspiring stories, moving moments, and a powerful sense of purpose as attendees rallied behind the mission to empower the next generation of female leaders through education and mentorship.
In October 2024, LaunchPad made a meaningful impact at Success High School by contributing $8,000 to the Principal Fund. This investment was earmarked for special campus projects, supporting enhancements designed to enrich the school environment and benefit all students—demonstrating LaunchPad’s ongoing commitment to strengthening local education and infrastructure.
That same month, my daughter Crystaline, GOL mentee Israa, and I delivered a powerful presentation to all junior and senior girls at Success High School. Together, we shared stories of resilience, determination, and the transformative power of mentorship. This event served as both an inspirational teaching moment and an outreach opportunity, introducing students to the mission of Girls of Legacy and encouraging them to consider applying. Through personal stories and shared experience, we inspired the next wave of potential students to envision a bigger future for themselves.
One of the most touching moments of the last year came in November, when Girls of Legacy mentee Alaiysha—studying STEM at Texas A&M—was reunited with her family, who traveled from Jamaica to the U.S. for the first time ever. LaunchPad and GOL made this moment possible, bringing her loved ones to witness her college “ring” ceremony in person. It was a beautiful testament to how deeply GOL supports not just academic success, but also making lifelong dreams come true.
In December 2024, Girls of Legacy mentors and mentees gathered for a festive holiday lunch at Maggiano’s in The Domain—an afternoon filled with warm conversation, laughter, and meaningful connection. This get‑together wasn’t just about celebrating the season; it was an opportunity for mentors and students to reflect on the year’s achievements, strengthen bonds, and recharge for the journey ahead. Moments like these reinforce the heart of our program: nurturing both personal confidence and community through shared experiences.
Over the past year, my daughter and I have made nearly ten visits to Success High School—far beyond the regular monthly mentorship sessions and semester-based scholarship awards from our Girls of Legacy program. These appearances, including a memorable December 2024 session, underscore our deep commitment to ongoing outreach and engagement with students. During that December event, I had the privilege of engaging with two exceptional students who have read "Lost Girl" and wanted to share their insights. We led an empowering session full of storytelling, encouragement, and practical guidance, reinforcing the program’s mission and broadening its impact.
Looking ahead:
We’re thrilled to welcome a new Girls of Legacy student into the program this month! Marissa is a 2025 graduate from Success High School and the first in her family to attend college. A straight-A student with a passion for helping others, Marissa will be pursuing a degree in Health Sciences Technology at South Texas College. She will be mentored by Elicia Guerrero, one of our incredible GOL mentor team members. We’re so proud to have her join the Girls of Legacy family!
As we reflect on the incredible growth of our Girls of Legacy this past year, we're also looking ahead with excitement to what’s next. On July 17, we’ll gather in downtown Austin for our Annual Girls of Legacy 2025 Fundraiser—an unforgettable evening that celebrates the impact of this program while raising critical funds for the class of 2025 girls! Every dollar raised directly supports our students’ college funds for the Fall 2025–Spring 2026 semesters, and thanks to generous partners, all donations will be matched.
This year’s gala is a private, invitation-only event with limited capacity, designed intentionally to bring together donors who are positioned to give at a significant level. While we wish we could open it up more broadly, the nature of this high-impact fundraiser requires us to focus on maximizing every seat in the room for our students' future.
If you're reading this and feel called to invest meaningfully in the mission of Girls of Legacy, we would love to explore your participation. You can learn more and express interest in attending by visiting our Girls of Legacy 2025 Fundraiser Page. We’ll follow up with registration details for those aligned with our fundraising goals.
A special thank you to our 2025 Girls of Legacy Gala sponsors:
We’re deeply grateful to the incredible sponsors who are making the 2025 Girls of Legacy Gala possible. Their generosity not only helps bring this event to life, but more importantly, directly fuels the educational futures of the young women we serve. It takes a community to create real, lasting impact, and we couldn’t do this without the support of these mission-aligned partners who believe in investing in the next generation of leaders. Thank you for standing with us and with our Girls of Legacy!
AvantGarde LLC
To contribute to Girls of Legacy – and have your donations matched dollar for dollar – visit https://www.rebeccacontreras.com/girlsoflegacy
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