Kevin Valdez, founder of the Valdez Foundation, understands that for many children, education is not guaranteed. It is negotiated against survival and balancing means for other essentials. A notebook can mean less money for food. A school uniform can become a family debate. Even internet access or running water inside a classroom can determine whether a child moves forward or falls behind in their educational journey. Through the Valdez Foundation, a nonprofit organization working throughout El Salvador, Valdez and his family help provide students with school supplies, infrastructure improvements, scholarships, and educational support, rooted in the belief that every child deserves a chance to learn and, most of all, the dignity to hope for more.
Born in San Miguel, El Salvador, Valdez grew up in a household of 11 people where access to education was difficult. He remembers walking 30 minutes each way to school and watching education become a harder goal to pursue with every passing year. For many families in El Salvador, continuing beyond elementary school can feel financially impossible. So much of a household's income must first cover food, water, and everyday survival. Often, education ends up last on the list of priorities. Those experiences became the foundation for the organization's mission when Valdez and his family launched the nonprofit in 2024.
Today, the foundation partners directly with El Salvador's Department of Education to support students from kindergarten through university-level studies. Since launching, the organization has worked with more than 25 institutions, impacting nearly 10,000 students and more than 300 teachers through scholarships, school improvements, and educational resources. Their projects vary depending on the needs of each unique school. Some involve installing electricity or running water. Others focus on internet access, laptops, or accessible rooms for students with learning disabilities.
One project in Santa Ana particularly resonated with the organization. Nearly 200 students were attending classes inside a church because they did not have a school building of their own. The same structure functioning as a church also served as a classroom for the children. After community members reached out, the foundation helped create a dedicated educational environment and install electricity and internet access. Teachers who previously lacked resources can now use screens, printers, and educational videos in their classrooms. It has given students access to tools many had never experienced before.
The foundation has also worked with schools to support students whose learning progress was disrupted by COVID-19. In one school serving nearly 1,000 students, the organization partnered with therapists and educators to help children struggling with delayed learning skills. Many of those students are now performing at the same level as their peers, helping prevent them from falling permanently behind in their education.
For Valdez, the work extends beyond supplies or construction projects. It's the beginning of hope for families and the building of lasting relationships with schools and teachers. The foundation continues to follow up with the communities it has served, focusing on long-term solutions rather than short-term aid. Valdez credits the work of board members Yancy Valdez, Mary Valdez, and Bryan Arguello, along with major supporter Ivan Contreras and project coordinator Marielo Villegas in El Salvador, for helping the organization grow. Support the foundation or learn more by contacting the organization directly at thevaldezfoundation@gmail.com.
“Education is the only path to better oneself,” said Kevin Valdez, founder and director of The Valdez Foundation.