| Volume 20, No. 3 March 24, 2011 |
 "Ignite the Light," our 2011 Annual Benefit Gala, is less than a month away! On Thursday, April 21st, more than 600 of our nation's leading business elites, elected officials and nonprofit executives will join us to enjoy the largest and most celebrated Latino event in the Northeast. I promise you it will be a magical evening filled with dance, music, friends and revelry that you won't soon forget. If you have yet to complete your sponsorship support or purchase tickets for the event, please do so now by clicking here or calling Nick Masciotti at 212 997-0100.
At this year's gala, we are delighted to present our wonderful Gala Corporate Chair, Wells Fargo, with our Corporate Leadership Award. We also have the distinct pleasure of honoring Ralph de la Vega, President and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, with our Premio Orgullo and present the Legacy Award to Goya Foods. The prestigious Community Service Award will be presented to HF member agency
Puerto Rican Association for Human Development. The partnership between the Federation and these institutions and individuals has been amazing. We are also deeply grateful for the incredible support and friendship of our 2011 Gala Co-Chairs: AT&T, Comcast, Hennessy, News Corporation, Toyota and Walmart.
In case you're wondering what you can expect on the
21st, here's a little sneak peek. Tony and Grammy award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda and famed MTV actress
Julissa Bermudez will be your host for the evening and preside over a dazzling array of appearances and performances by some of our community's brightest stars. During the 6pm cocktail reception, guests will be treated to exotic premium cocktails and fabulous wines compliments of Hennessy, and award winning beer compliments of MillerCoors. Guests will also have the chance to bid on amazing silent auction items. Then at 7pm, we welcome you to the spectacular Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf=Astoria, where we will celebrate our outstanding honorees with surprise presenters and a superb dining experience. The evening culminates with dessert and two hours of music and dance to get your feet moving and your heart racing.
And, what's best, this is all for a great cause! Your support will help raise much-needed funds to help us strengthen Latino nonprofits, improve educational achievement, promote healthy communities, increase financial stability and give voice to our community.
I look forward to thanking you in person on the 21st for your support. ¡Hasta pronto!
Lillian Rodriguez Lopez
President
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2011 Pre-Gala VIP Reception
Great Friends, Great Bubbly and Great Atmosphere! That's the best way of describing our 2011 pre-Gala VIP reception on Thursday, March 17th at Moet Hennessy USA. The celebration helped kick-off our month-long effort to bring added attention and excitement to "Ignite the Light," the Hispanic Federation's 2011 Annual Benefit Gala on Thursday, April 21st. This reception was made possible once again thanks to the generous support of Moet Hennessy USA. The evening was made extra special because of the wonderful representation we had from our Gala Chair, Wells Fargo, and many of our other sponsors and supporters. Special thanks to Chris Butler, SVP, Hispanic Segment Director for Wells Fargo and his team for their extraordinary support. We also want to thank HF Board members that attended the reception for their incredible support: Lucia Ballas-Traynor, Indrani Franchini, Lino Garcia, Carlos Morales, Jorge Reynardus and Carlos Venegas. I hope you take a moment to relive the celebration by browsing through these pictures. We very much look forward to celebrating with you in person on April 21st.
For photos of the reception, click here.
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National Latino Funds Alliance
The National Latino Funds Alliance (NLFA) will be convening on March 28 - 30, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas for its annual meeting. Spearheaded by the Hispanic Federation, the NLFA (initially named the Latino Funds Collaborative) was established in 1996 to help strengthen Latino involvement in philanthropy and develop specialized funds to support local Hispanic causes throughout the United States. NLFA is funded by the Kellogg Foundation to follow up on the Cultures of Giving challenge grant program. Currently, the following eight funds are participating:
· El Fondo de Nuestra Comunidad, Saint Paul, MN
· Greater Kansas City Hispanic Development Fund,
Kansas City, MO
· Hispanic Fund, Lorain, OH
· Latino CORE Initiative, Hispanic Federation, New York, NY
· Latino Community Foundation, San Francisco, CA
· Latino Community Foundation of Colorado, Denver, CO
· Nuestro Futuro, Chicago, IL
· South Texas Hispanic Fund, San Antonio, TX
Please click here to find out more about NLFA. For additional information regarding the funds annual meeting in San Antonio, please contact Heidy Rodriguez.
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Community and Citywide Education Council (CEC) Elections 2011
This spring the Department of Education will conduct a selection process to fill 324 open parent leadership seats throughout New York City.
CECs contribute to shaping educational policy in New York. CEC have responsibilities outlined in State Law and implemented through regulations of the Chancellor. These responsibilities include: approving school zoning lines, holding hears on the capital plan, evaluating community superintendents, and providing input on other important policy issues.
For more information about the selection process please click here.
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Interested in Learning More About Health Care Reform? Join the Health Disparities Network
To address health care disparities in minority communities, the Hispanic Federation partnered in 2007 with major ethnic medical, mental health and nursing associations in New York State to create the Health Disparities Network (HDN). The goal of HDN is to improve access to health care and quality of care for minority New Yorkers through coordinated public policy advocacy and public education.
From 2009 to the present, the Network has been focusing on monitoring the national health care reform debate, and analyzing the impact of this debate on current and new NYC and NYS health policies - with a special focus on how it will affect underserved communities in the state.
The next HDN meeting will be this Thursday, March 24th at 5:30pm at the offices of the Hispanic Federation, where members will discuss the Independent Payment Advisory Board - a provision in the health care reform bill designed to control Medicare expenditures. If you're interested in attending or finding out more about HDN, please contact Guadalupe Gonzalez.
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Funding Opportunity
Toys"R"Us Children's Fund Announces 2011 New Jersey Grant Initiative
The Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, a philanthropic giving vehicle of Toys"R"Us, Inc., has announced plans to award a total of up to $1 million to nonprofit organizations working to support children in New Jersey during the 2011 calendar year. This statewide grant initiative is intended to help alleviate economic challenges and sustain organizations that favorably impact children across New Jersey, where both the fund and Toys"R"Us are headquartered.
Proposals are being accepted from 501(c)(3) organizations for grants between $10,000 and $25,000.
For complete information about grant criteria and proposal submission, click here.
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2011 Pre-Gala VIP Reception | |
National Latino Funds Alliance | |
Education Council Election 2011 | |
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Health Disparities Network
Funding Opportunities |
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Donate an item for our 2011 Gala Ignite the Light's Silent Auction!
By donating an item, you will support the continued work of the Hispanic Federation. Your contribution will be acknowledged in our souvenir journal, showcased on the Federation's website, projected onto the main screen, and promoted in event materials. In addition, prominent tastemakers, including corporate, civic, and non-profit leaders will have the opportunity to view and bid on your item. The silent auction will be held during our annual gala at the Waldorf=Astoria on Thursday, April 21st between 7pm to 9pm.
For information on how to donate an item please contact Aixa Acevedo or call 212.233.8955 ext. 103 |
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Encuentros: Healthy, Sexy and Proud!
Encuentros: Healthy, Sexy and Proud! will take place Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Hunter College, NYC. Encuentros is the second annual gathering of Latino gay and bisexual men with the aim of building a healthier, stronger and more united and supportive community. Encuentros is an initiative of the Entre Hombres Program at HAF, Inc.
For more details and how to register, please contact Noris Chavarriaat or 212.563.4500 Ext. 304. |
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