Seeds of Legacy: Latina Philanthropic Leaders and Their Daughters

On December 3, the Progreso Latino Fund hosted the forum Seeds of Legacy: Latina Philanthropic Leaders and Their Daughters at the Dixwell Community Q House. The topic was, notably, chosen to align with the Community Fund for Women and Girls’ 30th Anniversary Celebration.

A moving duet of the song "Landslide," performed by mother and daughter Ana Garcia and Keri Otero, opened the evening’s program, which featured a panel of three mother-daughter duos who are giving back to the community through their charitable funds. Fund Chair Yari Ijeh moderated the discussion with the enthusiastic support of her own young daughter, Nnenna.

The women on the panel shared their personal paths to creating donor advised funds, and the importance of building a legacy and advancing philanthropy in the Latine community. By creating named funds, they hoped to inspire and invite others to do the same.

The word "invitation" was a theme throughout the evening. Attendees on and off the stage celebrated the Fund’s progress in broadening the community of local Latine philanthropists.

"That’s where it started for me: it was an invitation to an event like this," said Ijeh. "For the first time, as an adult, I was able to see people who looked like me, people who mattered in the community and who cared."

Attendees interested in establishing their own named funds were encouraged to contact Liana Garcia, director of gift planning at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Special thanks our Latine woman-owned vendors for the evening: Sabor Sajoma, L&M Desserts, Paola’s Flower Shop, Tierra Soap Co. and Dawn Santiago Photography.

What We Heard

• Giving back is embedded in Latine culture. "I saw my parents do it while they were counting pennies on the kitchen table, but formalized philanthropy isn’t always kitchen table conversation. We have to start to ignite that conversation so that it continues," said Liana Garcia, panelist and director of gift planning at The Community Foundation.
• Legacy is a word that bears repeating. "We hear 'legacy' in a lot of circles, but we don’t hear it enough in our Latine community. We need to hear it more; the table needs to be larger," said Ijeh.  
• Philanthropy is not only about charity. It’s about making change, "the kind of change that improves the conditions in which our community can thrive," said Frances Padilla, an attendee and co-founder of the Progreso Latino Fund.

Your Support Shapes the Narrative

Latines are not only building legacies and involving our families in philanthropy, we are actively designing solutions to the issues we care about most. Your support ensures that the Progreso Latino Fund has the resources, visibility and voice to create lasting change and shape our own narrative.
 
Please make your gift today. Together, we will ensure Greater New Haven’s Latine community is not only heard but empowered.

Complete a Brief Survey!

If you were able to join us for the event, please take a moment to complete our brief survey. Your feedback is important to us, and helps shape future events!