$200,000 In Grants Available for Texas Non-Profits Focused on School Drop-Out Prevention, April 13 Deadline; The Hudson Foundation and Dallas Social Venture Partners Combine Efforts for New Grant.

DALLAS -- The M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation and Dallas Social Venture Partners (DSVP) announced today that up to $200,000 in grants is available for Texas non-profit agencies focused on helping reduce school drop-out rates and improve students' academic performances. To be considered, agencies must contact DSVP in writing by 5 p.m. April 13, 2006.

"This is the inaugural year of The Hudson Foundation Competitive Grant for Innovative Programs in Drop-Out Prevention," said M.K. Larson, president of The M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation, located in Southlake, Texas. One or two $100,000 grants will be awarded to Texas non-profit organizations with proven track records of reducing drop-out rates in their respective communities. We are pleased to collaborate with Dallas Social Venture Partners on this new grant program."

To be considered for a grant, an applicant must:

--be classified as 501(c)(3) organization(s) as determined by the Internal Revenue Code;

--be focused on projects or programs in Texas, which support methods to decrease the drop-out rate;

--be serving a community with "educational need," defined as a community facing a 25 percent or higher school attrition rate for all students or for the demographic grouping of students served by the applicant. School attrition rate, as used for these grants, is the documented percentage of students who do not graduate from high school in the geographic region in which the applicant operates, and

--submit a letter of inquiry by 5 p.m. Thursday April 13, 2006.

Once letters are received from Texas organizations, DSVP, as the administrator of these grants, will:

--ask six finalists, who will be notified during the week of June 19, 2006, to submit proposals. These proposals are due by 5 p.m. Friday, July 14, 2006.

--conduct site visits between July 31 and Sept. 15, 2006.

--announce the grant recipients by Oct. 6, 2006.

--host recipients at an award presentation dinner, Oct. 26, at The Hudson Foundation.

Organizations interested in competing for these grants can send a letter of inquiry not to exceed two pages total, via e-mail to [e-mail] by 5 p.m. April 13. For information on what should be included in this letter, visit www.dsvp.org/grants_apps.asp.

The M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation is dedicated to helping those who help themselves through projects that create lasting fundamental change in its areas of interest. Chartered in Kansas City in 1991 by M.R. Hudson, the Foundation currently has $76 million in assets and supports Children's Issues/Discovery Experiences, Education (K-12), Arts and Research (basic bio-medical) in the North Texas and Kansas City metropolitan areas. The Hudson Foundation's philosophy is that true philanthropy is based on collaboration, engagement, and partnership to achieve an impact of change. Its goal is to continue M.R. Hudson's lifelong passion for improving the human condition, enhancing the quality of life and helping those who help themselves.

DSVP, launched in Dallas in 2000, is one of 23 social venture partnerships in North America demonstrating the value and innovation of "venture philanthropy," an emerging philanthropic approach for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community volunteers who are committed to provide "dollars and sense - business sense" for community service agencies. Since its inception, DSVP has granted $1.1 million to 14 community agencies, and presently has 120 business leaders and community volunteers as Partners.