Your Vote Matters
Charity Challenge spotlight: Latin Women have their own special Houston guardian angel
Houston's a city of great giving and the CultureMap Charity Challenge, presented by Yellow Cab, aims to highlight that. CultureMap selected 12 deserving nonprofits to compete for a grand prize as they all raise awareness for worthy causes. CultureMap is highlighting the charities over the next several weeks. Today: Latin Women's Initiative.
In 1995, Almendra Perez Cardenas, Leticia Fallick and Cecilia De La Rosa were moved by their desire to improve the lives of Mexican women in Houston to form what's now known as the Latin Women’s Initiative.
These civic-minded women proposed a plan to develop an organization of Mexican women of means to help other Mexican women to understand the language, style of life, culture and values of the lower socio-economic society. The organization could then engage these women to help raise money and provide assistance to fellow Mexican women who were less fortunate, and thus the Mexican Women's Initiative was formed.
In order to reflect the global community that was now part of this emerging non-profit, the organization changed its name to Latin Women’s Initiative.
Increased desire to carry out the core mission of Mexican Women’s Initiative attracted Latin American and Hispanic American women, too. In order to reflect the global community that was now part of this emerging non-profit, the organization changed its name to Latin Women’s Initiative.
The organization raises funds through events like their Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show, as well as many fundraising soirees and luncheons in between.
Every year, the organization's board meets and evaluates agencies that have applied for help from the Latin Women's Initiative. Five agencies are selected by popular vote and receive equal amounts of financial assistance from the organization. In years past, they have funded nonprofit organizations like college preparatory school Cristo Rey Jesuit, Casa de Esperanza (another Charity Challenge nominee) and breast cancer charity The Rose, just to name a few.
Vote now for the Latin Women's Initiative — or one of the other worthy local nonprofits — in the CultureMap Charity Challenge.
