June 3, 2009

Hispanic leaders honored at Las Madrinas brunch

By Rossana Goñi

On May 17, during the annual event Las Madrinas, the Denver Archdiocese’s Centro San Juan Diego honored Hispanic individuals for their leadership and community service while caring for and nurturing their own families.

In the Hispanic community, a madrina is a “godmother” or a person who serves, loves and constantly gives herself in service to others.   The benefit event furthered the mission of building and supporting the economic and social well-being of Spanish-speaking immigrant families through the Bienestar Family Services program of Centro San Juan Diego, which offers pastoral and family services and outreach. The festivities included a brunch, the awards program, and silent and live auctions.

Marycrest Franciscan Sister Alicia Cuarón, Bienestar Family Services program director at Centro, thanked everyone for their presence and constant support with the annual event. Luis Soto, executive director of Centro San Juan Diego, explained that last year Bienestar served more than 15,000 individuals and families, offering English as a Second Language, citizenship preparation, computer training and GED preparation among its host of programs.

The Madrina Awards were presented to Pat Cortéz, senior vice president and statewide director of public relations for Wells Fargo Bank in Colorado; Elsa Holguin of the Rose Foundation, and Perla Gheiler, emerging market development manager for American Family Insurance at the Mountain Regional Office in Denver. 

The Rebozo (Shawl) Award was given to Irene Ibarra, president and CEO of The Colorado Trust. The Corazón (Heart) Award was given posthumously to Bernard D. Martinez, who served on the advisory board for Centro.  

The Estrella (Star) Award went to a couple, immigration lawyer David Simmons and his wife Nere, a Mexican native. For the past four years the Simmons’ have taught citizenship classes at Centro.