El Centro Hispano Celebrates 40 Years Of Service to Westchester’s Hispanic Community

ARDSLEY, N.Y. - Oct. 3, 2014 - PRLog -- El Centro Hispano will celebrate its 40^th anniversary of continued service to the Hispanic community at a sold-out Gala with 480 distinguished guests and supporters on Saturday, October 18 at the Crowne Hotel in White Plains.

It will use the milestone event to launch “Family Circle”, a new and attractive program for donors who contribute more than $500 per year to help the non-profit organization to continue meeting the needs of an exponentially growing Hispanic community. Among the benefits of a “Family Circle” donor will be invitations to year-end celebrations including various education programs, scholarship presentations, the annual holiday celebration, and more. In addition, they will have opportunities to participate in hands-on volunteer activities including tutoring in one-on-one education programs and distributing food to families and individuals.

Donors will also be honored at both a “Family Circle” celebration and at El Centro’s annual fundraising event when they will be acknowledged for their support. They will also be listed in the annual report as a “Family Circle” member.

Isabel E. Villar, El Centro Hispano’s founding Executive Director, said that the generosity of individuals and organizations from all walks of life and sectors throughout Westchester, as exemplified by this year’s 40^th Gala honorees, have made it possible for the organization to fulfill its mission of strengthening the Hispanic community by offering a wide variety of bilingual programs throughout the year.

She cited how the Hispanic population has grown dramatically in 40 years. “In the 1970 census, 23,359 county residents identified themselves as residents compared to 207,032 in the 2010 census. In White Plains alone where we are based, about 30% of the population today is Hispanic and this number will surely increase, making our programs even more essential to help the next generation of Hispanics succeed in our community.”

She praised the support of this year’s honorees—13 individuals, families and organizations chosen for their commitment to supporting El Centro Hispano. “They typify our core support group which we are looking to expand by attracting new donors through “Family Circle” which is critical to sustaining El Centro Hispano’s mission in the challenging years ahead.”

The honorees are:

The Lanza Family and Patricia Lanza(Posthumously) for their help in carrying out the mission of El Centro.  Together with their mother Pat, they have supported many of our educational programs.

Archbishop Stepinac High School for opening its Technology Center every week during the school year to the young women and men of the Lanza Mi Hermana(o) Mayor Saturday Academy and for the participation of Stepinac’s students in tutoring Hispanic youth.

Joseph Cloherty for his involvement in making the Lanza Mi Harmano(a) in the Eastview Middle School program a success. As principal, he arranged to have the tutoring program housed at the school.

Eric Eitel for his friendship, guidance, and support and special thanks for bringing Pat Lanza closer to El Centro Hispano and its mission.

Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Tri-Sate Area, Inc for its generosity in providing $33,5000 in grants that have supported El Centro’s educational and enrichment programs for youngsters.

Sharon Fineman and Sam Fineman, M.D for their hundreds of volunteer hours in working with one-on-one with students in a patient, fair and loving way.

Federico Guzman for his generosity and support of f El Centro’s programs including the Three Kings Celebrations and his volunteer work in the food distribution program.

The Ho Family (Edward and Gwendolyn and their two children—Samantha and Lleyton—for delivering bread, fruit, and vegetables donated by local stores to El Centro every week.

Honorable William J. Ryan for his unwavering help in assisting families and individuals in the areas of housing, employment, education and healthcare.

Donna and Stephen Sorrow for their exemplary dedication to making life better for the families by bringing baked bread and other food every Thursday  to El Centro that is enjoyed by our families who visit El Centro.

Ana Yee for placing a number of students from Berkeley College where she serves as Career Counselor.  The students she has handpicked for El Centro have gained invaluable experience working in a nonprofit setting.

Robert Michell for sponsoring  El Centro’s successful applications for funding for programs for youth from the Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Tri-State Area, Inc and for helping a number of individuals find jobs with one of his McDonald’s franchises.

People’s United Community Foundation for awarding more than $20,000 in grants since 2011 to help fund essential El Centro programs.

The 40^th Gala sponsors are Ruby Benefactor: The Lanza Family Foundation;

Gold Benefactor: Brady & Goldberg; Silver Benefactor: Cabanillas & Associates, P.C., George & Rachel Gumina of the Rockefeller Family and White Plains Hospital and Bronze Benefactor: Berkeley College, The Hersch Family, David and Katherine Moore Foundation,New York Presbyterian Hospital, People’s United Bank, Nermin Epperson from Julia B Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, Lourdes Lopez Valleand The Westchester Bank.

For more information about El Centro Hispano and how to become a “Family Circle” donor, call (914) 289-0500 or via e-mail: elcentrohispano1@aol.com