Society of Martha Washington Press Release

Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation seeks expansion of scholarships to students in the Laredo area with partnership of the Society of Martha Washington

(Tuesday, April 18, 2023) – For the first time ever, the Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation has invited the Society of Martha Washington Debutantes from Laredo, Texas to the Public Crowning of Larry Kurth, Rey Feo 74.

Since 1984, The Rey Feo program, a 501(c)3, non-profit organization, has raised over $9 million for scholarships given to over 4,000 students in San Antonio and the surrounding area with 200+ students each presently receiving $2,000 for books and tuition. Yearly, the foundations receives over 600 applications and growing.

For years, the Society has included the Rey Feo in their annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration and now the Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation is strengthening their relationship with Society of Martha Washington to provide scholarships to high school and college students in the Laredo area.

Formed in 1939 in Laredo, Texas, the Society of Martha Washington hosts the Colonial Pageant and Ball, an annual debutante ball where young women make their debut into society. Held at the Laredo Civic Center, it is part of a citywide Washington's Birthday Celebration, which takes place in February every year.

San Antonians will see the debutants sometimes referred to as “the Marthas.” dressed in elaborate hand-made 18th-century style dresses. The dresses are composed of several parts which include: a corset, bloomers, a cage, a petticoat, and finally the dress itself, custom-made in collaboration between the debutant and the dressmaker. Silks, satins, and velvets fabricated all over the world are hand-picked and uniquely adorned with all types of beads, lace, and ribbon to create the perfect colonial debutante dress. The dresses can weigh up to 80 pounds because of the tremendous amount of intricate beading.

Interviews with Larry Kurth, Rey Feo 74, Ñora Idelia-Montemayor from the Society of Martha Washington, Jennifer Barbaro from the Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation will be available on Friday, April 21 at 5:00 pm in front of the San Fernando Cathedral.