GALA
l c o m e
WI am delighted to welcome you to El Centro Hispano’s 33rd Anniversary Gala. Tonight, we come together to celebrate more than three decades of service, resilience, and shared progress. Since our founding, El Centro Hispano has been committed to strengthening our community, building bridges, and creating opportunities for all.
This past fiscal year alone, we proudly delivered over 200,000 vital resources, from educational opportunities to health services and economic empowerment programs. These milestones are a testament to the hard work of our staff, the dedication of our partners, and the spirit of our community. Every number represents a life impacted, a barrier broken, and a story of hope.
As we share this memorable evening, let us take pride in how far we ’ ve come, and look ahead with renewed energy for the journey still to come. With your continued support, we will keep opening doors, amplifying voices, and creating a future where everyone can thrive. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here with us tonight.
President & CEO
El Centro Hispano is the largest Latino-led organization in North Carolina, dedicated to supporting all people across Durham, Wake, Orange, and surrounding counties in the Triangle and Piedmont regions.
MISSION
ECH works to strengthen the community, build bridges, and promote opportunities for all.
A b o u t U s
VISION VALUES
Strengthening and advancing people in North Carolina and beyond.
Flexibility
Vocation to serve Teamwork
Respect Leadership
Focus Areas
Tutoring
Reading Habits
Parent Workshops
Education System Guidance
Promotion of Early Education
English Classes
Adult Literacy & Basic Education
Computer Classes
Spanish Classes
C O M M U N I T Y H E A L T H
Salud Integral: Healthy Lifestyle Classes
Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP)
Mental Health Education
Health Education
Ventanilla de Salud: connections to low-cost
healthcare services
Physical activity classes
Health screenings
Access to vaccines and testing
Community Health Worker con
Prevention of sexually transmit
Senior and caregivers activitie
E C O N O M I C D E V E L O
Job connections
Toolbank
OSHA in Spanish
Triangle Business Network S o m e o f O u r S e r v i c e s & P r o g r a m s
Vocational trainings for employ
Tax preparation (VITA) assistan
Click events for businesses
Personal finances workshops
Business finances workshops
C O M M U N I T Y S U P P O R T
Legal Connections
Financial Assistance: Rent
Financial Assistance: Utilities
Interpretation & Translation
Notary Services
Assistance to vulnerable popula
Diaper Distribution
C I V I C R E S O U R C E C
Legal preparedness forums an
Voter education
Competency
EDUCATION
809 adults engaged through parent education, basic reading, math, and writing program, ESL classes, computer class, citizenship classes, and Sí! Spanish Immersion Institute.
206 children served through tutoring, summer camps, library programs, and STEM activities.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
2,048 people received employment services and job training in collaboration with Durham Tech and other workforce development partners as well as financial literacy education.
At our Center for Employment & Leadership (CEL) we provided jobs and opportunities for 130 community members with the support of 275 local employers.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
20,970 people served through our mobile unit
Through our partnership with the Mexican Consulate and community health workers, we have reached 35,283 individuals to promote good health, physical activity, and disease prevention. Additionally, we engaged 45,135 people through our events and distributed 1,710 food bags
u r I m p a c t
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
10,195 people assisted in-person and over the phone.
1,603 people assisted with essentials such as rent, utilities, diapers, and food.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
142 community members participating in support groups, activities, and workshops for special populations.
A total of 89 youth participated in the Youth Leaders in Action Program, which focuses on leadership development, college readiness, and service learning. Additionally, 48 individuals attended our citizenship classes, 72 older adults engaged with our programs, and 123 women benefited from our services. We also provided 12 special memberships, benefiting 670 people.
7:30PM
WelcomeRemarks
PilarRocha-Goldberg,President&CEO
7:50PM
CulturalPerformance
DancebyOrgulloyAlmaLatina
8:00PM
LiveAuctionBegins
HostedbyBenFarrell(30min)
8:30PM
YouthScholarshipAwards&Fundraising
8:45PM
AwardsCeremony
HostedbyPilarRocha-Goldberg,President&CEO
Gilbertson-ClarkVisionaryAward
Presenter:TaePark,WakefieldBarn
Recipient:TransitionsLifeCare(BetsyBarton,JackieSinicrope&AdamWolk)
President’sAward
Presenter:SantizBersain,LatinoCommunityCarCenter
Recipient:HealthLit4WakeProgram(LechelleWardell)
President’sAdvocateoftheYearAward
Presenter:Dr.VivianaMartinez-Bianchi,DukeHealth
Recipient:FranciscoGuzman
VolunteeroftheYearAward
Presenter:PatrickByker,Morningstar
Recipient:KatelynRobalino
9:00PM
RaffleWinnersAnnounced&Performances
HostedbyBenFarrell.PerformancebylaRegiadeMonterrey
9:30PM–1:00AM
FiestaCelebrationFeaturingLiveMusicbyAbakua
GOLDSPONSOR
AWARDS& SCHOLARSHIPS GALA 2025
Gilbertson
Clark Visionary Award
TRANSITIONS LIFECARE
Founded in 1979, is a nonprofit dedicated to providing compassionate care for individuals facing serious illness. Transitions offers palliative care, hospice care, pediatrics, grief care, and caregiver support. Last year, Transitions LifeCare served over 7,000 patients across its service area, which includes Wake, Johnston, Orange, Franklin, Granville, Durham, Chatham, and Harnett counties.
President's Award
HEALTHLIT4WAKE PROGRAM
HealthLit4Wake is a program which was started during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic to dispel vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccination rates among Black and Hispanic communities in Wake County. The purpose of our work is to support and empower Black and Latino communities to be knowledgeable in health decisions they have to make.
President's - Advocate of the Year Award FRANCISCO GUZMAN
Francisco Guzmán is the Minority Outreach Coordinator with the Whole Child Health Section in the Division of Child and Family Well-Being at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
In this role, he has been promoting NC Medicaid with an emphasis on reaching minority populations to meet the health, social and emotional needs and assisting North Carolina families with Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs. He has participated in advocating for Language Access for the international community residing in NC.
Volunteer of the Year Award
KATELYN ROBALINO
Katelyn Jessenia Robalino is the Town of Chapel Hill’s Language Access Coordinator In this role, she leads the Town’s Building Integrated Communities Initiative (BIC) to create inclusive government practices for immigrant and refugee communities.
Her Town work intersects with El Centro’s community-first mission, so she tables often at their events and collaborates with staA to connect Spanish-speakers to Town resources. In addition to volunteering as an interpreter for El Centro, Katelyn also serves on their Nuestra Voz committee
he Ed Blount Scholarship DIEGO SANCHEZ TIRADO
ego Sanchez Tirado is an incoming student Stanford University, where he plans to jor in Electrical Engineering and Computer ence.
has contributed over 100 volunteer hours, luding work at Apex Immigration Services, small nonprofit supporting low-income migrant communities. Diego sees dership as providing guidance, staying ounded, and building others up. He uses his owledge and connections to support his ers, always leading with empathy and a mmitment to service.
The Maria
and Urbano Ehuan Scholarship
GRACIELA MIRANDA TUDÓ
Graciela Miranda Tudó is a recent high school graduate,Graciela plans to pursue an associate degree at Wake Tech Community College with the goal of transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill through the C-STEP program.
With a strong interest in how people connect and how messages shape perceptions, Graciela is drawn to the field of Communications. Its versatility and creative possibilities open the door to many career paths. Ultimately, Graciela hopes to build a career that fosters creativity, continuous learning, and impact
SUPPORT OURWORK
SPECIAL THANKS OURSUPPORTERS
LIVE AUCTION SPONSORS
John Alex Piñeros-La Castellana
Jonathan Carmel
Chef Dimitri Hidalgo, Executive Chef La Residence Restaurant
Takiri Folclor Latino
Abakúa
Cornelio Campos
LIVE AUCTION SPONSORS
ECH Women's Group Colombian
Artist Vicky Possin
Carambolo
UNC Chapel Hill Laurie Palicelli
UNC Basketball / UNC Football
NC Courage - Soccer Team
North Carolina FC - Soccer Team
Carolina Hurricanes
Durham Bulls
La Buena Vida Restaurant
Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Restaurant The Lenny
Rooftop
Restaurant & Bar in Durham
Pueblo Viejo Restaurant
El Patrón Restaurant
Zweli's Ekhaya
Restaurant Durham
Performance Art Center
Steve Toler
Washington Duke Inn
