The had its start five years ago when 17 individuals and organizations put up $25,000 each to create an endowment that would put the organization on solid ground. Since then, enough money has been raised to award 60 grants totaling $875,000 to entities dedicated to strengthening the state’s Latino families and resources.
“We’re not the Fords or the Rockefellers … we’re the Alvarados, the Montoyas, the Martinezes,” observed managing director Yolanda Quesada when 200 friends of the LCF gathered at the Denver Art Museum for an anniversary celebration. “We’re a generous community, but until the Latino Community Foundation began, that generosity was never formalized.”
Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia was among the well-wishers. “Too often,” he said, “we are portrayed as takers, but that’s not us.So many of you (here tonight) have been very successful and forward-thinking, willing to support those who struggle and make the difference we know we can make.”
The LCF is an initiative of and was formed at the suggestion of its leader, Sheila Bugdanowitz, in cooperation with , the Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation and the . Ron Montoya, managing partner of , is chairman of the board.
9News weather forecaster Belen DeLeon emceed the celebration, and sang the traditional Mexican birthday song, Las Mañanitas, as Quesada and Montoya cut a cake provided by .
Guests also included Sister Alicia Cuaron, founder of such groups as and the ; ‘s new chief executive, Dr. Art Gonzalez, and his wife, Debbie; executive director Christine Marquez-Hudson and board chair Benita Duran from ; Jim Garcia, founder and executive director of ; leader Guillermo “Bill” Vidal and his wife, Gabriela; Don Mares, executive director of ; Cec Ortiz, who manages the Rose Community Foundation initiative Colorado Latino Age Wave; George Martinez, chair of the board; Dr. Ned Calonge, president/CEO of the , and 2011 board chair Patricia Baca; Radio’s Zee Ferrufino; Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld (she was chair of the Rose Community Foundation board when the Latino Community Foundation was formed); Marco Nuñez, who directs , a LCF grant recipient; and president Marla Williams.
And even though it wasn’t designed to be, the anniversary celebration turned out to be a fundraiser. By evening’s end, $90,000 in gifts had been received.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/getitwrite
