In the wake of another act of violence, one that took 21 innocent lives at Robb Elementary School, the Butt family and H-E-B announced they will commit $10 million to help build a new elementary campus in Uvalde, a press release detailed.
In partnership as founding donors, the Butt family and H-E-B, which are longtime supporters of public education, will work with other stakeholders and organizations on the development of this project, the press release.
Texas firms Huckabee and Joeris General Contractors, which are also founding donors, have also made generous commitments to donate their services and time to this project, which will help the children, families, staff and Uvalde CISD community move forward together.
“Our first store in Uvalde opened in 1959, and Uvalde people are our people,” Charles Butt, H-E-B’s Chairman, stated in the press release. “As we continue to mourn tremendous loss, I join with my family and H-E-B in working to ensure the Uvalde community can move forward from this tragic event. Our children are this country’s future, and our schools should be a safe place where children can thrive and envision new possibilities.”
For those who would like to join the effort, contributions to support this project can be made by donating to the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization established to help raise funds for the new elementary campus as well as serve the immediate and ongoing financial needs of Uvalde CISD. Donations can be made by visiting UvaldeCISDMovingForward.org.
The new campus will significantly enhance educational offerings and implement state-of-the-art safety and security measures, and infrastructure to support the availability of new technology. The location and design of the new campus and timeline for the project have not been determined. The school district will work closely with the Uvalde community, donors, and other stakeholders to solicit ideas and gather feedback for the project.
Built in the 1960s, Robb Elementary serves approximately 538 students in grades second through fourth. The school has been permanently closed, and while a timeline hasn’t been determined, plans are in place for the school to be demolished, ensuring students and staff will not have to return to the building at the site of the tragedy.
In addition to this support, last month, H-E-B launched a donation campaign and announced it would commit $500,000 to support the victims and families affected by this heartbreaking event. Earlier this month, the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust also announced a $500,000 donation to support nonprofits helping fellow Texans in Uvalde.
“We thank our loyal H-E-B customers for their unwavering support of communities in times of need,” Butt stated in the press release.
Since 1905, H‑E‑B has demonstrated its commitment to individuals and communities in crisis by donating financial support and emergency supplies, as well as providing efficient ways for customers to assist those affected by tragedy and disaster.
