New endowment focuses on Latino needs in county

The Community Foundation for San Benito County launched a new endowment July 20 that is focused on serving the local Latino community. The Latino Generations Endowment is the focus of the Latino Advisory Committee, a charter of the Community Foundation.
For the launch, the advisory committee planned an event at San Juan Oaks Golf Club with more than 60 people in attendance. Diane Ortiz, the executive director of the Youth Alliance, and Kinan Valdez, a member of El Teatro Campesino, served as emcees for the event.
In a press release, the Community Foundation cited statistics that show six out of 10 residents in San Benito are Latino. Ortiz said at the event that the Latino community is challenged with disparities in education, leadership, employment, civic engagement, workforce development, health care and obtaining wealth.
The goal of the endowment is to promote solutions to the community’s most pressing needs.
True Leaf Farms, a salad and vegetable processing company located in San Juan Bautista, is an establishing partner for the endowment. According to the press release: “True Leaf Farms owners have expressed their excitement for the impact the endowment will make in bettering the lives of their employees and the local community.” The company employs 500 people, of which 95 percent are Latino. The effort is also supported by a grant to the Latino Advisory Committee from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
Valdez referred to the endowment as the beginning of a new legacy for the community.
The event included a performance by Mariachi Juvenil Alma de Mexico, a tri-county youth mariachi group.
Ann Becerra Fata will serve as the Latino Generations Endowment development director. Donations can be made to the endowment at www.cffsbc.org or by calling (831)630-1924 for more information.