Wine and chocolate are a perfect match; so perfect, in fact, that they’re the inspiration for a popular fundraiser that benefits .
Vino y Chocolate was started in 1998 by Romaine Pacheco, director of the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions, and Sister Alicia Cuaron, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity. A 2008 inductee into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, Cuaron recently retired after 10 years as executive director of Bienestar Family Services.
The money that it raises is used to buy clothing and toys for the moms and children who’ve sought refuge at Latina Safehouse.
One hundred twenty-five friends of Latina Safehouse gathered at Denver Art Museum for this event organized by Clara Ricciardi, the DAM’s Spanish language and outreach coordinator; Danita Vigil, a ; Laura Morales, Hispanic marketing representative for and chair of the Latina Safehouse board; Timi Aguilar of ; and publisher Pauline Rivera.
Safehouse executive director Diana Chavez helped organizers welcome a crowd that included DAM deputy director Andrea Fulton; Andres Chaparro, station manager for KDEN Telemundo Denver; and Mario Carrera, chief revenue officer for , and his wife, Irma.
Plans to establish Latina Safehouse began in 2003, and services began the following year. The “founding mothers” were Sister Carmen Aranda, Letiza Calzada, Marcela de la Mar, Gina Del Castillo, Benita Muniz, Katie Garcia and Cuaron.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
