Key Annual Events 

Valley Proud Golf Tournament

The Annual Valley Proud Golf Tournament began in 1987 as a fundraiser and networking event for our membership.  Every year nearly 100+ golfers from across the Rio Grande Valley gather on the greens to raise funds for the Rio Grande Valley Partnership Foundation.  The tournament alternates between counties each year, and is a great networking opportunity. 

For sponsorship information, please email Samantha@valleychamber.com.
****UPDATE: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT! Especially our ACE Sponsor - AEP Texas!

Bienniel Legislative Tour of the Rio Grande Valley

The Legislative Tour of the Valley is a biennial tradition at the start of every Texas Legislature created by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership in 1975 for the purpose of helping our members and the community engage in direct conversation with its policymakers. We challenge all of our members to participate in our biennial tours of the Valley as these visits are one of the best ways to participate in our democracy and make your voice heard. Due to the vast growth of the Rio Grande Valley, the tours rotate between Hidalgo/ Starr counties and Cameron/ Willacy counties.

Every two years, during the start of regular legislative session, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership brings a delegation of lawmakers down to South Texas. Because the region is so large geographically, the legislative delegation visits western Hidalgo County and Starr County one session, then two years later, lawmakers cover Cameron County and Willacy County. During these visits, the Partnership works with various community and business leaders to highlight areas such as education, infrastructure, transportation, health, manufacturing, agriculture and international relations.

Past legislative tours have included the following stops: Golden Raintree Citrus Gardens in Weslaco, the Palo Alto Battlefield, the Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center in McAllen, the Edinburg Children's Hospital of South Texas Health System, the Gladys Porter Zoo, the Museum of South Texas History, the Los Ebanos Ferry in Sullivan City, University of Texas Brownsville/Texas Southmost College, City Market in Matamoros, Rio Queen Citrus, IDEA Academy, the Port of Brownsville, South Padre Island, the Port of Harlingen, and the original Iwo Jima Memorial. These select few entities of the Rio Grande Valley either gave informative tours or presentations to lawmakers that attended.

"The Valley strikes a unique balance between the preservation of history
and culture and cutting edge thinking and innovative industry. This is why a
strong partnership between Austin and the Valley is important. Working together
and creating an environment where everyone's views can be heard will be the
hallmark of my tenure as Speaker of the House, and it is my hope that each
member of the 81st Legislature will have a chance to do something great for
their district and for Texas."
     -Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus

"Regardless of whether the tour takes place in the Upper or Lower Valley,
the needs of all of South Texas will be presented. It is also an excellent
opportunity for us to let the rest of the Texas Legislature see first-hand that
we are a thriving, vibrant community of hard-working individuals wanting to
improve our own lives, that of our families and communities, and of the entire
state. And we can show them we have the population, willpower and determination to do so. The well-organized and highly informative tour is a classic example of how we can work together, and often do, for the good of the area." 
     -State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Valley Proud Honors Banquet

The Valley Proud Honors Banquet was created by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership in 1989 in an effort to recognize and encourage the top two graduating seniors of every high school, both public and private, in the four Southmost counties of Texas. Every year since, the Partnership invites these young individuals to join us alongside their proud parents and educators as we recognize their academic achievement and provide words of wisdom as they continue their education and pursue their dreams.
Special thanks to Marcy Martinez with KGBT Action 4 News for being our master of ceremonies every year; and to the Bill Summers Family for raffling 2 scholarships at this wonderful event.  This year's Honors Banquet will be held on Tuesday May 21, 2013 at Victoria Palms in Donna. THANK YOU to HEB and to all of our sponsors!
 
CONGRATULATIONS to all of our top students here in the RGV.  Pictures will be posted soon.  Please tune in to KGBT Action 4 News for highlights from the event - pictures will be shown all summer of our Valedictorians and Salutatorians.

Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament

The Annual Texas Hold’Em Poker Tournament is one of the newest additions to the Rio Grande Valley Partnership event list. With great live music, food and so much fun this tournament is greatly anticipated every year within our members and the community.   70+ players compete to win top prizes such as an IPad, destination vacation packages, televisions and many more.  Members use this as a great networking opportunity as they watch the intense game.