Latino Community Foundation 2013 | Page 4

OUR MISSION IN ACTION Several years ago the Latino Community Foundation set out on a mission to build a better future for California, by investing in Latino children, youth and families. We knew that our mission was bold and that it relied on you, our community, to fuel the ambition. Today, we are proud of LCFs accomplishments and continue to push the boundaries. The millions of stories of resilience, the dreams of our youth require nothing less. We have learned from experience that when we come together to invest in Latino families, amazing things happen—children do better in school, parents find viable work, and communities thrive. LCF knows how to seize opportunity and to adapt strategies, and here is just one example: On June 15, 2012, President Obama issued Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to protect undocumented youth from deportation and provide them with temporary work visas. LCF, partnering with the LAM Network and Latino In Finance, quickly identified a plan and brought together more than 150 donors to assist DACA eligible youth with the legal process and application fee. This year we saw the fruits of that labor. We met the Delgadillo family, whose children were set to benefit from DACA. Olivia and her husband have three children who all plan to attend college. Olivia works three jobs to provide for her family, one of those a catering business she started with the support of La Cocina. Through the Mission Asset Fund (MAF), an LCF grantee, her children have been able to join a DACA lending circle to save money that is matched by MAF to apply for Deferred Action. It has worked. All of her children have now been granted Deferred Action and their dreams of attending college are becoming a reality. This was possible because of your investment. We can do so much more. As you read this annual report we hope it inspires you to join us in building a better future for the millions of families like the Delgadillos. We have come a long way. We hope you will continue to be a part of this amazing movement to increase opportunities and set a new path forward for Latino families in California. Gracias, RAQUEL DONOSO, LCF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AIDA ALVAREZ, LCF BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR