ORS was founded with the goal of alleviating poverty in rural communities by providing more opportunities for education, access, and exposure for first generation, low income youth.

ORS was awarded their first Upward Bound classic program and Upward Bound Math & Science program funded by the Department of Education. Both programs provide academic support, career mentoring, college advising, and financial aid counseling to at-risk youth.

ORS established the Johnson County Educational Opportunity Center, thanks to funding by the Department of Education. The center serves no less than 1,000 individuals every year, providing college access support, college and financial aid advising, GED preparation, and so much more.

ORS was awarded two Upward Bound classic programs and two Upward Bound Math & Science programs. One of each were new and the others were renewals. These grants continue to provide academic support, career mentoring, college advising, and financial aid counseling to at-risk youth throughout Johnson County.

ORS changed its vision statement to A Texas Without Generational Poverty. Our work at ORS is all about fighting generational poverty in Texas. We do this by connecting Texans to higher education & building educated communities. After all, education is the fastest and surest path to prosperity.  

Despite the pandemic, ORS staff continued to serve, providing clients access to our full array of educational services. ORS quickly switched to online programing to ensure program continuity.

ORS established the Dallas County & Tarrant County Educational Opportunity Centers, once again thanks to funding by the Department of Education. Each program will serve no less than 850 individuals annually, providing college access support, college and financial aid advising, GED preparation, and so much more.

ORS starts two new programs in Dallas and Tarrant counties. A new Upward Bound program serving Southwest High School in Fort Worth ISD and a Math & Science program at Lancaster High School in Lancaster ISD. ORS was also selected to hold two AmeriCorps VISTA grants that increase the organization’s capacity to lift communities out of poverty.

ORS has established new partnerships serving those involved in the criminal justice system. We support meaningful education and job training for incarcerated Texans to decrease repeat offenses and find gainful employment upon release.