Las Vegas Sands Tuesday announced the company will contribute nearly $350,000 for the 2024-2025 and 2026-2027 academic years to the National Hispanic Institute as part of the Sands Cares support of the transformational leadership development program for Latino high school students in Las Vegas.
The new Sands Cares funding is in addition to a previous three-year grant, which provided the seed investment for NHI to establish a presence in Las Vegas, and annual support for organizational expenses and student stipends.
From 2022 to 2024, Sands Cares funding enabled 97 Las Vegas high school students to complete NHI’s leadership development programs, with over 25 students returning as volunteers.

“Sands has made it possible for us to immerse high-achieving Las Vegas students into our multi-level leadership development training, which progressively prepares them to be successful in the public and private sectors, as well as in their lives as a whole,” said NHI Executive Vice President Nicole Nieto in a statement. “With the new Sands Cares funding, we are focusing on expanding our reach in Las Vegas and equipping more students to make positive impact for themselves and their communities.”
Students enter the NHI’s leadership development program as rising sophomores focusing on communication skills as tools for self-advancement and community change through participation in the organization’s Great Debate. As rising juniors, students learn about governance, organizational development, and policy design through participation in the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session. Rising seniors participate in the Collegiate World Series, which has a dual focus of preparing students for both college admissions and community leadership.
“We have seen the tremendous impact NHI’s curriculum makes on students, and it strongly aligns with our commitment to building a highly capable and diverse workforce of the future,” said Sands Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs Ron Reese, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives. “Students leave NHI’s programs with increased confidence, new skillsets and a vision for their futures that supersedes their previous belief systems. It is a remarkable experience, and we encourage local students to take the journey.”
Funding for the 2024-2025 academic year will underwrite stipends for student tuition, travel expenses to competitions, recognition ceremonies, a student civic project, an organizational fundraiser, and a local administrator to manage the program, coordinate with the local volunteer alliance, and conduct community outreach. Through Sands Cares support, NHI also plans to hold a one-day leadership program for eighth grade students interested in becoming future candidates for NHI’s high school programs, and publish a Las Vegas annual report for parents, schools, and community members.
NHI is accepting applications for ninth- and tenth-grade students to enroll in its next program cycle until Feb. 28. Eligible ninth-grade students must have an 85/100 or 3.0/4.0 grade point average, and tenth-grade students must have an 88/100 or 3.2/4.0 GPA. Students from all backgrounds may apply. Students and school officials may contact Regina Legarreta at regina_legarreta@nhimail.com or apply at www.nationalhispanicinstitute.org.