Dearest friends. Next month, I turn the big 5-0.

To mark this milestone, I wish to fulfill a lifelong dream of endowing a grant for student journalists at my alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin. Once seeded, TESTIMONIOS FRONTERIZOS will enable young writers from the Texas counties and Mexican states that share our border to apply for funding to support their reporting, including travel expenses, equipment, and language training.

Endowed=forever. Once we’ve raised $25,000, UT Journalism School will annually grant $1,250 in perpetuity. Thanks to a matching grant, we are already two-thirds there. I’m asking for your help for the last $9,000.

How? Via Lotería Literaria!

A powerhouse collective of writers I admire have donated the beautiful books below, by: Norma Cantú, Ana Castillo, Patricia Engel, Rigoberto González, Reyna Grande, Natalia Sylvester, and Sergio Troncoso. Each raffle ticket costs $10. To participate, make a donation and DM me a screenshot of the tax receipt plus your mailing address. I will draw names on my birthday and mail autographed books to the winners.

Thank you to infinity for your support, and apologies in advance for the posts & pleas to come. Fortunately, I’m only turning 50 once!

Stephanie