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Toledo’s Adelante, The Latino and Community Resource Center, will also pay special recognition to The Andersons, who will receive the Amigo Award for their ongoing support for Adelante, Inc.
“We wanted to try something a little different this year and host the event at the comedy club, said Guisselle Mendoza, Adelante’s executive director. “People will be paying $75 for tickets; so we thought we should provide them some good entertainment along with their meals.”
In addition to the awards and meal, the fund-raising event will also feature live musical performances and comedic entertainment, said Mendoza. The event is named after farm labor leader César Chávez, who co-created and co-led United Farm Workers, which helped secure farmworkers the right to unionize and seek better wages, working and living conditions. Mr. Chávez died on April 23, 1993 at the age of 66.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to benefit the work of Adelante, Inc. To purchase tickets or learn about sponsorship opportunities contact Adelante at 419-244-8440.
The purpose of the award’s gala is to recognize the hard work and dedication of some of Toledo’s most outstanding leaders, who have emulated through their deeds and actions the courage and commitment exhibited by Señor Chávez, Mendoza said.
Ms. Rodríguez has been an outspoken advocate for better economic, health, and educational opportunities for Toledo’s Latino community for more than four decades. She recently retired from the Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo (EOPA, now Pathway). This will be the second time that Ms. Rodríguez has been bestowed the honor; she was the very first recipient of Adelante’s César E. Chávez Humanitarian Award in 2003.
Ms. Santiago is a former Toledo city councilwoman and a longtime city employee who worked for numerous years for the City of Toledo Law Department. She most recently served as director of the City of Toledo’s Department of Neighborhoods under Mayor Michael Bell’s administration.
During her years as a Toledo City Councilwoman, Ms. Santiago continued to practice law with Gallon, Takacs, Boissoinelle & Schaffer (Gallon & Takacs), where she worked as an associate in general practice, with a specialty in immigration law.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to cover the center’s overhead costs, such as building repairs, which most grants can’t be used for, said Mendoza. The Center in recent years has lost more than one-third of its funding, officials say. According to Director Mendoza, despite the financial challenges, “Adelante has continued to provide a variety of programs, including children’s programs and health education.”
“We believe very strongly that there is a great need for the services that Adelante provides,” said Ms. Mendoza, who was hired as the agency’s new executive director 8 months ago. “The question the public needs to answer is do you want to keep Adelante open?
“If the answer is yes, we need you to show us support.”
On the Internet: https://laprensatoledo.com/Photo%20Pages/Chavez%202005/Chavez%20Humanitarian%20Award%202005%20photos.htm
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