What We're About and How You Can Give

First, let me say on behalf of the Villavisencio family, thanks for your participation in this effort.  Joseph Villavisencio was a great young man.  Many of you know him as a member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Football team, but he was much more.  He was a beloved son and brother to his family, a friend to many both in his hometown Jacksonville and at Texas A&M, and a man who took service to his fellow students very seriously.

Joseph was tragically killed in an automobile accident in December, 2011.

This is a grassroots effort to build a scholarship fund in his honor.  It began as a thread on the football fan site TexAgs.com reminding posters of the tragedy and to not forget the Villavisencio family and their loss this holiday season.  One person suggested posters "do some thing nice in (Joseph's) name".  Another suggested pooling money in his name.  A third suggested a scholarship fund.  Excitement grew, volunteers came forward, and before long this grassroots effort to remember a fallen Aggie was born.

In the days to come there will be more posts to come, including a solid bio of Joseph.  Many of us know him simply as a football player, but he was much more, and his family is excited for others to learn about who he was not just on the gridiron, but off of it.

In the meantime, giving to the fund has already begun.  You too can add to the fund and help us solidify Joseph's memory while at the same time providing financial support to students at Texas A&M University.  Here's how:

Donations can be made in two ways:

1. You can send a check to check to the Texas A&M Foundation with "Joseph Villavisencio Fund" in the memo line.  The address is:

The Texas A&M Foundation
401 George Bush Drive
College Station, Texas 77840

2.  Gifts can be made through the Texas A&M Foundation Website here.  The following page will be displayed:

Follow the instructions in the image to designate your gift in Joseph's name.

Please Note: For tax/accounting purposes the Foundation has requested that we refrain from using the words "Endowed" or "Endowment" in any donations until the scholarship has hit the required $25,000 mark to become officially endowed.  Please use "Joey Villavisencio Fund" and all the funds will be directed into the account.  The Foundation will then work with the Villavisencio family to identify how the funds should be dispersed.  Should we not reach the $25,000 mark, the funds will be dispersed per the family's wishes.

Thanks for your support of this effort.  Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter as well, and tell your friends and fellow Ags who haven't heard!  Finally, please keep the Villavisencio family in your thoughts and prayers as they mark the year annivesary of Joseph's death, and remember his life.