Scholarships

“Little Violas”

We Have Awarded More Than $255,000 In Scholarships To San Antonio Area Youth!

The Selection Process

Viola's Huge Heart Foundation works with various schools throughout Greater San Antonio, to identify students in need. Our goal is to help the identified student with the creation and funding of a scholarship for a term of three to four years to aid with tuition and other qualified school associated expenses.

We do not distribute funds directly to individuals, nor do we identify the student in need. Funds distributed from the Foundation may only be used for purposes that would cause the payment to be considered a qualified scholarship under Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code (tuition, enrollment fees, books, supplies and equipment that are required for the course by the educational institution).

Scholarships for Violas Huge Heart Foundation

The Qualification Process

Any nonprofit school that has a candidate in need, considering the qualifications below, may apply for aid in creating a scholarship for the candidate. The Foundation's preference is to work with parochial schools in the San Antonio area, but this is not a mandatory requirement. The terms of any scholarship created by the school with funds being contributed by the Foundation must have the following requirements:

  • The student must maintain a "B" GPA average (80 average).

  • The student must be in need of tuition assistance.

  • The scholarship will not exceed a length of four years of assistance to be used for the payment of tuition and associated school expenses.

  • The board of the foundation will assess the character of the proposed candidate based on interviews with the student, his or her parents or guardian, teachers, etc.

  • The student must be available and willing to participate in any promotional campaigns or advertisements held by the foundation regarding his or her scholarship.

Considering the above criteria, we may elect to aid the selected school in the funding of a scholarship for the identified student. There is no guarantee that a scholarship created by a school will be fully funded by the Foundation. If the Foundation agrees to contribute to a scholarship created for a student, the Foundation will have the sole and exclusive right to determine the amount of funds to be contributed to the scholarship.

Our Partner Institutions

Viola's Huge Heart Foundation works with some of the greatest academic institutions in San Antonio to help award students a world class education, all while preparing them to be tomorrow's leaders of their community.

  • Incarnete Word

    Incarnate Word High School

    The college preparatory experience at Incarnate Word High School begins on Day One. Every student at the historic, all-girls Catholic school embarks on a modular schedule that mimics a college schedule – with blocks of free time sandwiched between rigorous classes that often meet only three times a week.

    Every faculty member provides thoughtful, challenging work—much like a professor at an institution of higher learning. Students learn to tackle an advanced curriculum. They explore electives, like photography and art. They volunteer at school and in the community. They learn to manage their time.

  • Providence Catholic School

    Providence Catholic School

    The spirit of Providence Catholic School has inspired students for 60 years. A rigorous academic curriculum prepares the all-female student body for college. A rich faith environment equips everyone – from freshmen to seniors – for service.

    Teachers offer Saturday classes. Counselors provide one-on-one college advising and create portfolios for each student. The school offers 13 Advanced Placement courses, five dual credit classes, innovative electives and an internship class for seniors.

    The results impress. Every graduating senior last spring was accepted into college. The Class of 2011 earned more than $8 million in scholarships.

  • St. Gerard's High School Exterior

    St. Gerard's High School

    St. Gerard opened as a high school in 1927. Over its 95 years as a school it has served countless students across San Antonio, building a strong legacy and community within the Archdiocese. While the school itself closed, ​we want to honor the legacy and continue to impact the community it so strongly built. Although closing as a high school in 2022, St. Gerard still impacts the community as an education and athletic center.

    Starting in the summer of 2023, St. Gerard reopened as an Education and Athletic center providing summer camp opportunities to all students across the greater San Antonio area. The mission is simple- build upon the excellence of Catholic education by adding additional opportunities for each student, regardless of the school they attend.

  • Holy Cross High School

    Holy Cross of San Antonio offers and serves students of all abilities and economic status. A Holy Cross education is concerned primarily with leading students to understand and to live Christianity. Holy Cross welcomes non-Catholics and non-Christians who wish to benefit from our mission.

    In the Holy Cross of San Antonio educational heritage, there is a direct connection between the qualities a person develops in school and the qualities lived long after the years in school. Holy Cross has a concern for realism in education; students must be prepared for the society and the world in which they are going to live and work.

    The Holy Cross of San Antonio graduate forever remains committed to all that is significant in every community. Holy Cross wants to continue producing alumni that will positively impact the local community, the country, and the world.

  • Antonian High School

    The mission of Antonian College Preparatory High School is to inspire and empower young men and women to thrive while leading meaningful lives rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

    Influenced by our LaSallian legacy and animated by our desire to see God in all things, Antonian College Preparatory will continue to be a premier Catholic, co-educational high school. We encourage our students to always seek knowledge and to deepen their relationships with God to make a positive difference through service to others. We empower and inspire our students to embrace opportunities to work with integrity for peace and justice in our ever-changing world.

    Our philosophy reflects the basic beliefs about learning and teaching in Antonian's educational environment. To this end, there is a set of principles that are required to be endorsed by all members of the Antonian community. These principles form the Antonian Core Values and include: Compassion, Courage, Integrity, Justice, Love, & Responsibility.

  • St. Anthony Catholic High School

    St. Anthony High School

    St. Anthony Catholic High School is a premier co-educational institution rooted in Catholic values and traditions, which form the foundation for the comprehensive college preparatory curriculum. Young men and women who attend St. Anthony Catholic High School partake in an extensive array of rigorous academic courses that both challenge and enrich their understanding of the sciences, the arts, religion, languages and cultures, emerging technologies and more.

    Students also have the opportunity to participate in college freshman courses as part of the High School Connection program at the University of the Incarnate Word. Top-notch athletic programs and exciting extracurricular activities help shape well-rounded leaders. Guided by devoted faculty and staff, St. Anthony’s holistic approach to education allows students to grow mentally, physically and spiritually and empowers them to make choices consistent with their academic and career goals.

The Barrios Family with recipient Margot Alva

Little Violas

Little Violas are the young ladies that have earned the full ride scholarship offered by Viola’s Huge Heart Foundation. What sets apart these students apart from their peers is their brave, intelligent, and hardworking spirit that embodies the vision of success held by the late Viola Barrios.

  • Abigail Issarraras

    “I didn't even know whether I was going to a Catholic high school. I had applied and been accepted to Incarnate Word, but it probably wasn't going to work out.”

    "But then something marvelous happened, and that was Viola's Huge Heart Foundation. I could not believe that a family would do so much for one girl, especially me. The more I thought about it, it didn't make sense to me. I was thinking that they should have given a four-year scholarship to someone they knew, rather than me, a random girl from Little Flower School."

  • Daniela Portillo

    “I feel very fortunate to have received this scholarship. It has given me a peace of mind. My mother is a single mom who has been working very hard to keep me in private school.”

    Daniela Portillo nurtures a dream as big and beautiful as her heart. It is a dream that motivates her to study hard and serve others in the community. Though she is only 15- years-old and the daughter of a single mother, Daniela aspires to a career in medicine.

  • Daniela Cisneros

    “I want to be a pediatrician. I made that decision when I was in the seventh grade.”

    In 2013 Daniela Cisneros says she was really surprised when she was picked up to go to the high school she really wanted, and it was all paid for. Now 15 and a sophomore, she’s found Antonian High School treats her like an adult. She’s made lots of new friends, and there are no clicks. And she’s exposed to the world of medicine.

  • Samantha Santos

    “I was really shocked to be picked for the scholarship. Now I have to plan and focus.”

    At 14, Samantha Santos is a freshman at Holy Cross High School. She is the latest recipient of the Foundation scholarship, and she knows well that, like the other recipients before her, she’s in for changes in her life. As her father Juan Santos notes, she’s focusing on high school knowing she’s representing what Viola Barrios stood for.

  • Danielle Brown

    Danielle Brown

  • Cyan Pickett

    Cyan Pickett

  • Margot Alva

    Margot Alva

Want to help our future scholarship recipients?

Contact us today to donate to our Scholarship Fund!