Progreso Latino Fund 20th-Anniversary Kickoff Celebration (RECAP)

20th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration

In 2023, the Progreso Latino Fund celebrates 20 years of inspiring Latine* philanthropy in the Greater New Haven area. The Progreso Latino Fund was created by a group of ten Puerto Rican community leaders in 2003 to have a positive impact on the most important issues facing Latines then and today.

Event Recap

On February 2, 2023, the Progreso Latino Fund (PLF) kicked off a special yearlong celebration of its 20th anniversary with a festive evening at Bregamos Community Theater.

PLF honored its history and founders, and launched its 20th Anniversary $20,000 Match Campaign, which is raising the endowment to further its positive impact on the most important issues facing the community.

The program featured poignant stories from the founders of newly-established Latine charitable funds, inspired by PLF. We also heard welcoming remarks from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven board chair Marcella Nunez-Smith and president & CEO Will Ginsberg. PLF founders John and Frances Padilla provided a history of the Fund's founding. Joe Rodriguez, State Deputy Director for Conn. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, delivered proclamations from Blumenthal, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the Connecticut General Assembly and the City of New Haven. PLF Advisory Committee co-chairs Tara Davila and Yari Ijeh shared PLF's plans for the anniversary year and beyond, including $100,000 in grants for the community over the next two years.

What We Heard

"The work you are doing is difference-making." — Marcella Nunez-Smith, The Community Foundation board chair

"Opportunity and equity: These two words say it all about The Community Foundation, and PLF is at the heart of our opportunity and equity work." — Will Ginsberg, The Community Foundation president & CEO

"What was our vision? It was to create a permanent source of money for Latinos by Latinos; we wanted to grow philanthropy in New Haven; and we wanted a seat at the table. Because if you don't have a seat at the table, you are on the menu." — John Padilla, PLF founder

"In our community, the needs are great. The fund is a great source for leverage to attract more investment into our community." — Frances Padilla, PLF founder

"The seed that was planted has blossomed into a garden of opportunity." — Joe Rodriguez, State Deputy Director for Conn. Sen. Richard Blumenthal

"There are still more tables we are looking to sit at." — Yari Ijeh, PLF Advisory Committee co-chair

"This is PLF in action, right here. The idea of growing philanthropy within the community and also growing our fund.” — Tara Davila, PLF Advisory Committee co-chair

Siempre Pa'lante Fund

Est. 2022 by Tara Sanabria Davila and Malwin Davila

Progreso Latino Fund Mission Statement:

To empower a diverse Latine community in the Greater New Haven region through education, leadership, culture, and philanthropy.

*A note about our use of "Latine:"

On December 5, 2022, The Progreso Latino Fund Advisory Committee approved the use of Latine (pronounced Latin- ay) as a more inclusive way to address the community while retaining the historical name of the fund.

The Progreso Latino Fund is profoundly committed to impacting the Latin American community, and because this is the case — with great discussion, thought and self-informing — we have recognized the need to evaluate how we include all people within such a diverse community. For several years, "Latinx" has been an inclusive term not limited to a specific gender, orientation or traditional binary among many of our people. While PLF retains its historical name as the Progreso Latino Fund, we have adopted another inclusive way of embracing all our community with "Latine." There are many words in Spanish that end with the neutral "e." We believe that to honor all races, genders, orientations, faiths and varying ethnicities that make up the Latine diaspora, using this terminology is a small step in equitably valuing the dignity of all. We see all of you, and all of you are important.

For questions, or to be informed about future PLF events, please contact Carmen Burgos.