With the attendance of around 350 people, the 46th Anniversary Gala of Círculo de la Hispanidad was held with great success at the prestigious Garden City Hotel, on a night dedicated to celebration, solidarity and commitment to the education of the Hispanic community.
The main purpose of the event held last Friday, May 15, was to raise funds to provide scholarships to young Hispanic high school graduates who will begin their university studies next school year.
Thanks to the support of the community, sponsors and attendees, this year the organization will award a total of $45,000 in scholarships to 40 students from the Hempstead, Long Beach and Evergreen Charter School districts.
During the gala, prominent figures and organizations were honored for their commitment to the Hispanic community and their leadership on Long Island.
The recognitions were awarded to Osmán Canales, Mateo Flores, Jovia Financial Credit Union, Pedro Placencio, Rico Ramnarayan and Craig Sweezey.
“Thank you! I feel very honored by this tribute for my long career working for the Hispanic community. It feels nice to receive this prestigious award and at the same time, I feel more committed to continuing to raise my voice for our immigrant people,” said Osman Canales.
Meanwhile, Digna Jiménez, part of the Jovia bank team, also expressed her gratitude upon receiving this recognition and, taking the Círculo de la Hispanidad gala as a platform, she recalled: “The first time I came to the United States, I traveled with my brother, on the plane I took him by the hands and looked at his face and said ‘we are going to be fine,’” and this has been her immigration to the US.
Community Services and Programs
The founder and executive director of Círculo de la Hispanidad, Gil Bernardino, along with Dr. Sarah Brewster and Amy Flores, thanked the attendees, sponsors, members of the board of directors and the organization’s staff for making possible an unforgettable evening commemorating the 46th Anniversary gala.
The night was full of excitement, joy and celebration, accompanied by an elegant banquet and live music by the renowned orchestra “La Sociedad” that made everyone present dance and turned the gala into a true celebration of unity and Hispanic pride.
Currently, Círculo de la Hispanidad serves more than 5,000 people in Nassau County through more than 20 community programs.
Over the years, the organization has distributed more than $600,000 in scholarships and supported hundreds of Hispanic youth on their path to higher education.
The gala was held under the motto “Education is the best form of progress for our Hispanic community at an economic, political and social level,” the organizers highlighted, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to youth and the future of Latinos.
How each year the gala was characterized as being one of the best in the Long Island community and this 46th anniversary edition was no exception, being classified by many attendees as “a night to remember”, thanks to the excellent organization, the festive atmosphere and the positive impact that this cause generates in so many Hispanic families.
Círculo de la Hispanidad has already announced that its next gala will be held on Friday, May 21, 2027, within the framework of its 47th anniversary, promising another special night full of hope, recognition and community support.
