José Manuel Rojas Memorial Fund

I believe, like many children, that my father left us too soon. I still remember his laugh, his smile, and how attentive he was by way of his eyes. He was a proud Puerto Rican. He was smart - an intellectual, and we talked about things few people are interested in. While most children learn about religion by going to church, my dad taught me religion by way of Durkheim's research on the aborigines of Australia!

I believe his thirst for knowledge was a way to build up Puerto Ricans and demonstrate that we, too, belong at the "table."  My dad and I never talked about philanthropy, but one thing I know for sure is that he would have liked to have left a legacy.  I am honored to have found a place within the Progreso Latino legacy and the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, where my father's story and legacy will live forever.