History - AVANCE San Antonio

History of AVANCE San Antonio

BE A CHAMPION OF A FAMILY'S FUTURE

Our journey started in 1972 when two Cornell University doctoral students studying under Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner created the original AVANCE-Mother Infant Program in Dallas. Then in 1973, AVANCE established the San Antonio office and began offering classes in the Marisol Housing Project.

Since the program's inception, AVANCE has earned broad recognition and funding from various sources. Notable visits from national and international dignitaries include the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Prince Charles of Wales, Oprah Winfrey and former U.S. First Ladies Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Clinton, the late Barbara Bush, and Laura Bush. AVANCE has been featured in the New York Times, NBC’s Education Nation, ABC's World News Tonight and Good Morning America, along with several social documentaries such as Ounce of Prevention and Scared Silent.

Other distinctions include Best Practices Award from the Texas Association of Parent Educators, HEB Excellence in Education Award, Simmons Luminary Award for Educational Excellence and many more. Explore our historical timeline below to learn more about how we have grown into a national leader in two-generation programming.

Timeline of Accomplishments

1972 – Every story has a beginning

The idea for AVANCE originates when Bonnie Park and Ann Willig, two Cornell University doctoral students studying under Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner, start their Mother-Infant Program in Dallas.

1974 – Avance is born

Dr. Gloria Rodriguez establishes AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program in San Antonio’s Mirasol Housing Project.

1986 – Your Majesty, may we present AVANCE

Prince Charles, now King Charles III, visits AVANCE and AVANCE receives award from the Mental Health Association.

1988 – AVANCE in the Spotlight

First Lady Barbara Bush visits AVANCE, and The New York Times and ABC World News Tonight features AVANCE’s renowned Parent-Child Education Program

1989 – First Lady Barbara Bush second visit

Second visit by First Lady Barbara Bush and AVANCE receives award from the Mental Health Association.

1990 – An Even Start for children

AVANCE receives one of the first Nationwide Even Start Programs Grants.

1991 – An Oprah-tunity

Oprah Winfrey invites AVANCE to be part of “Scared Silent,” a documentary about children.

1994 – AVANCE Funding Consortium

Carnegie, Ford, Hasbro, W.K. Kellogg, Rockefeller, Hilton and Mott Foundations establish an AVANCE funding consortium.

1995 – AVANCE as National Model

Featured as National Model in Prevention of Crime and Delinquency on McNeil Lehrer NewsHour.

1996

Featured as National Model in Prevention of Crime and Delinquency on McNeil Lehrer NewsHour.

1998 – Book Debut

First Lady Rosalynn Carter cites AVANCE in her book, “Helping Someone with Mental Illness.”

2001 – AVANCE Award recipient

Recipient of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Families Count Award.

2002

AVANCE Waco becomes an incorporated chapter thanks to a $1 million grant from the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation.

2003 – AVANCE success

The $5 million Capital Campaign is a major success. The AVANCE National Headquarters building is included in the National Registry of Historic Buildings.

2004

AVANCE founder Dr. Gloria Rodriguez receives National Hispanic Heritage Award in Education.

2006

Program expands to New Mexico and California with an award from the W.K. Kellogg and Hilton Foundations.

2010 – AVANCE makes history

AVANCE makes history by becoming the recipient of a $12.6 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

2011 – Best Practices Award

Texas Association of Parent Educators presents AVANCE with their Best Practices Award.

2012 – AVANCE has been recognized nationally

AVANCE was awarded Simmons Luminary Award for Education Excellence and the HEB Supermarket Excellence in Education Award. The organization was selected by New Profit, Inc. to join its portfolio of investments, further elevating its national presence.

2012

AVANCE’s President and CEO was featured on NBC’s Education Nation, and the organization also participated in an Early Childhood Cohort in partnership with the Bezos Family Foundation, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and excellence in serving families.

2013

For 7th Consecutive year, AVANCE named a Top 25 Hispanic Nonprofit by Hispanic Business Magazine.

2014 – Taking 2Gen to a Higher Level

AVANCE joins the Aspen Institute Ascend Network.

2024 – AVANCE Celebrates 50 Years of Service

AVANCE celebrates its 50th Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AVANCE!