Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley’s FIESTA Welcomes Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro Cortés, Honors St. Luke’s and Others

Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley (HCLV) will celebrate 47 years of service to Bethlehem at FIESTA on March 27, 2015 from 6 pm to 9 pm at the University Center at DeSales University. Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pedro Cortés will be the special guest speaker. The event will also honor those who have contributed to the Hispanic Center and the communities they serve.

St. Luke’s University Health Network President and CEO, Richard A. Anderson, will accept the Community Leadership Award on behalf of the health network. HCLV is honoring St. Luke’s commitment to improving the quality of life for Bethlehem residents with outreach projects such as the Dental Van and Fowler Community Health Clinic at Donegan Elementary School. Mr. Antonio Marrero, Liberty High School teacher, will be awarded the Outstanding Educator Award for his 30-year teaching career, 26 of which he spent teaching mathematics, science, and English as a Second Language at Liberty High School. Efrain “Bulldog” Santiago will receive the Sergia Montz Volunteer Award and Josue Ferrer-Rios will receive the Marlene “Linny” Fowler Outstanding Youth Award for their contributions to the HCLV Food Pantry.

The event will include a raffle and silent auction and is the single large fundraising event for the non-profit organization. Tickets are $90 per peron, $175 per couple, and $700 per table and can be purchased online at www.hclv.org.

The Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley (HCLV), formerly known as the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations of the Lehigh Valley, Inc., was founded in 1968 by community members representing the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society, Holy Infancy Catholic Church, and the former City of Bethlehem Human Relations Unit. The intent was to give community newcomers a place to receive assistance to attain employment, learn English, and access community resources. While its name, programs and services have changed over the course of 46 years in order to reflect community needs, HCLV continues to offer quality services and programs that enable its clients to become contributing members of their families and community. HCLV currently runs a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, the Basilio Huertas Senior Center, the Food Pantry, and the Community Empowerment Program. The mission of the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley is to improve the quality of life for Hispanic and other families by empowering them to become more self-sufficient, while promoting an intercultural understanding in the Lehigh Valley. For more information, please visit www.hclv.org.