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A big ¡VivaFest! thank you for your support  
With world-class performances and wonderful crowds, the 2013 festival was a hit

Estimados,

"I begin with two words that all men have uttered since the dawn of humanity: thank you." 

These words of gratitude, from Octavio Paz's Nobel lecture, have special meaning for us throughout the year but especially so every fall, when we have the honor and opportunity to express our profound appreciation to all those who make our work possible. To our donors, volunteers, staff, artists, educators, students, and YOU: we are beholden.

Octavio Paz also said that "Languages are vast realities that transcend those political and historical entities we call nations." This year at ¡VivaFest! we saw first-hand how the language of music transcends traditional place-making -- ¡VivaFest! brought the classroom into the concert hall and the concert hall into the classroom. At the SAP Center, renowned Mexican tenor Fernando de la Mora wowed and wooed the crowd with his fantastic voice. At San José High School, he inspired students by speaking about his career and providing invaluable lessons on art, life and love -- and then he serenaded the cooks in the cafeteria with the same message.

These were just a few of the wonderful moments of ¡VivaFest! 2013. We celebrated our culture through music, dance, film, art, literature and community gatherings. And we couldn't have done it without you. We thank everyone who made the festival possible, and offer a warm "abrazo" to our major stakeholders: the City of San José, the Arena Authority of San José, the Mexican Consulate in San José, Safeway/Epicentro Marketing, the National Endowment for the Arts, the TomKat Charitable Trust, the Hewlett Foundation and of course, our title sponsor, MundoFox. 

  

In this newsletter, we are so proud to share photos, video and slideshows, as well as samples of some of the great press coverage we received. We hope these images transcend our poor efforts to say what we feel in our hearts: gratitude, pride and a renewed commitment to service. 

  

Saludos, 

Marcela 

  

P.S. Keep reading for an exciting message from another one of our valued supporters, AT&T! Actively hiring, AT&T is looking to recruit from the Latino community, and we're happy to help.

 

  

The festival in video


On September 7 at SAP Center, we presented "A Tribute to the Songbook of Romantic Mexico," with featured performers Fernando de la Mora, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Mariachi Azteca and Symphony Silicon Valley.

  

[video: ¡VivaFest! at SAP Center] 
¡VivaFest! at SAP Center

  

  

MundoFox was a valued partner throughout the festival, and several of their stars graced the ¡VivaFest! stage. Here's a fun MundoFox recap of our September 15 El Grito celebration at Discovery Meadow.

  

[video: El Grito celebration] 
MundoFox's recap of El Grito.

  

  

Young people are always a big part of our programming. This slideshow recalls the great day we had when some of our students from Lincoln High School put on a folklorico-dance show at Whole Foods in Campbell.

  

[video: Dancers at Whole Foods] 
¡VivaFest! students dance at Whole Foods.

  

 

The festival in the news

  

We had so much fabulous media coverage this year: in print, online, on the radio, from the San Jose Mercury News to the San Francisco Chronicle, from NBC Latino to KQED to CBS Radio. Click on the images below to read some of the best articles. 

  

  

[image: Mercury News article] 

  

  

  

 

[image: Andrew Bales op-ed] 

 

   

[image: Joe Rodriguez article] 
  

  

  

[image: NBC Latino story] 
 

  

  

A message from AT&T

  

AT&T, one of our sponsors, has some exciting news to share. The company is hiring for retail sales positions throughout the Bay Area!

  

From saying hello to closing the deal, you'll play a huge role in making our customers happy. And that's exactly how you'll meet your sales goals.

  

Being part of AT&T comes with many rewards and opportunities. Health insurance, 401K plans and tuition reimbursement? We have them. Newest wireless technology? You'll get it. Training and ongoing career development? It's part of the deal.

  

Join the company that CR Magazine named America's Best Corporate Citizen. Apply today at  http://attlinks.com/svretail1.

  

[image: AT&T flier] 
 

    

Funding for the Mexican Heritage Corporation and its programs such as ¡VivaFest! and Los Lupeños de San José is provided in part through: a grant from the Office of Cultural Affairs of the City of San José, and from The San José Arena Authority, The National Endowment for the Arts, The TomKat Charitable Trust, The Hewlett Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Union Bank Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, Mundo Fox, earned revenue from ¡VivaFest! and from readers like YOU. THANK YOU. To learn more about all of our generous donors please visit

www.vivafest.org/sponsors. 

   

 

[image: donate now button]
  


About Mexican Heritage Corporation
The mission of the Mexican Heritage Corporation is to affirm, celebrate, and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Mexican Community and showcase multicultural arts within the region.
 

 

Mexican Heritage Corporation 
Marcela Davison Avilés
President and CEO
More Information: 877-MHC-VIVA