June 2, 2010

Las Madrinas brunch honors Hispanic leaders

By Lara Montoya

Ten individuals were honored for their leadership and community service at the annual Las Madrinas brunch held May 16 at Centro San Juan Diego.

Centro San Juan Diego is the Denver Archdiocese’s Hispanic institute offering pastoral and family services and outreach. The Las Madrinas event benefits the Bienestar Family Services of Centro.

Luis Soto, executive director of Centro San Juan Diego, welcomed the attendees and spoke about the services Centro provides through its Bienestar programs.

“These days, immigrant families are seen as a menace—as a problem for our society,” Soto said. “People who have come to us in search for opportunities for them and their families are being targeted. Dreams are truncated and hopes diminished.”

Offering help and hope though, Soto said, are Marycrest Franciscan Sister Alicia Cuaron, director of the Bienestar programs, her staff and those who support their efforts.

“It is encouraging to honor people like our madrinas and all the other awardees,” Soto said, “for it is through their example that we all learn that Hispanic immigrants are not a problem we must solve, but an opportunity we must embrace.”

According to Soto, last year some 8,000 people received direct services through Bienestar and nearly 30,000 through Centro as a whole.

Msgr. Bernard Schmitz, vicar for clergy and advisory committee member of Centro San Juan Diego, led the invocation for the event. Manuela Gallegos, one of the students of the adult education program offered by Bienestar, shared what the program has meant to her.

“For many years I suffered many humiliations because I didn’t know how to read and write,” Gallegos said. “Centro San Juan Diego made my dream (of education) possible.”

Madrina Awards were presented to Mary Ann Solano Shing, president and CEO of Brothers Redevelopment, who served on the initial planning committee to develop Centro San Juan Diego and is on the advisory board; Deborah Vela, founder of Vela Insurance, who is involved with Bienestar and Centro programs; Marcela de la Mar, director of Education and Cultural Affairs for the Consulate General of Mexico in Denver, who served on Centro’s initial planning committee and helped develop its Plaza Comunitaria Initiative; and Christine Johnson, special assistant to the provost at the University of Colorado-Denver, who serves on a Catholic Charities board and volunteers with Hispanic youth ministry and Catholic schools.

The Rebozo (Shawl) Award went to Luella Chavez d’Angelo, president of the Western Union Foundation, which partners with nonprofits to facilitate economic opportunities. The Corazón (Heart) Award went to William F. Amann, English as a Second Language teacher who was instrumental in developing the ESL curriculum at Centro. The Estrella (Star) Award was presented to four individuals: Timothy MacDonald, Susan Cole, Angela Reyes and Ilene Lin Bloom, all volunteers serving at Legal Night Clinics.

EAT OUT AND HELP CENTRO

On June 13 when you enjoy a meal at any of the five AJUUA Mexican restaurants you will also be benefiting the education and self-development programs of the Denver Archdiocese’s Centro San Juan Diego. Centro offers pastoral and family care to Hispanics. Up to 20 percent of the sales that day will go to Centro.

 Locations: Denver/Aurora, corner of Hampden Avenue and Tamarac Drive;

Denver/Montbello, corner of Peoria and 45th Avenue;

Aurora, 6020 S. Gun Club Road;

Boulder, corner of Broadway and 38th Street;

Longmont/Niwot, 7960 Niwot Road. Visit www.ajuua.com.