Mucho Más Fiesta!
An evening with friends to celebrate excellence
On Friday, December 1, Hope CommUnity Center welcomed over 200 people to its extraordinary Y Mucho Mas Fiesta! The evening was full of good food, friends, music, stories of our community, and much more.
We want to thank everyone who joined us for this special evening as we celebrate another year of transformation, impact, and Hope. We were delighted to have WESH 2 News Anchor Nancy Alvarez as our emcee for a second year, bringing energy to the night with her warm personality and inspiring stories. We also want to extend a special thanks to our presenting sponsor, the Hispanic Federation, for their invaluable work and continued support, as well as 26 Health, whose generosity allowed us to enjoy an exquisite dinner. Thanks to all of you, excellence is
Honoring Excellence
On this exciting night of recognition, we honored those who have left their mark on the community, supporting the work carried out for more than 50 years by Sisters Cathy, Gail, Ann, and now Felipe. Congratulations to this year’s honorees. They are the true heroes in our community.
The “Sister Cathy” Award for Excellence in Education
Presented to Dr. Georgia Lorenz, President of Seminole State College of Florida, whose dedication and more than 20 years of experience in higher education have marked a new chapter in the institution’s history.
The “Sister Gail” Award for Excellence in Advocacy
Presented to Rev. Rhonda Michelle Walker Thomas, Executive Director of Faith in Florida, the first African-American woman to hold this position, through which she has demonstrated extraordinary dedication.
The “Sister Ann” Award for Excellence in Community Organizing
Presented to Marco Antonio Quiroga, Founder and Executive Director of the Contigo Fund. Marco works tirelessly to change systems and ensure full access to resources for those at the intersection of marginalized identities.
To all honorees, thank you for being flares of change and making a difference in the community. Your work lights the path of Hope for those who need it most.
Silent Auction
We kept the fiesta going with a silent auction, which included many unique items. These included jewelry, Universal Orlando Resort park tickets, handmade pottery by our board member and retired attorney Bob McIntosh, autographed jerseys by Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic, watercolor collages from long-time Hope supporter Janice Rous, and much more!
The fiesta goes on.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who participated: attendees, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors. Thank you for being part of our transformative journey, supporting and positively impacting marginalized communities. Let’s continue on our journey toward growth, bringing Hope to those who need it most. We’ve had an incredible year, and our work won’t stop there.
We look forward to another year of empowering local communities, raising voices, advocating for immigration reform, y mucho mas!
We invite you to relive the moments with us! Visit our Facebook page to view photos from this special night!
