HIPGivers Honored at 30th Anniversary
Ford Foundation President Darren Walker acknowledged Hispanics in Philanthropy’s long and successful work to diversify the U.S. philanthropic sector and increase funding for Latino communities in his recent keynote remarks at the celebration of HIP’s 30th anniversary.
There are more African American and Latino leaders in philanthropy now than there were in the 1980s, Walker told those who attended the 30 Years of Latino Giving banquet at the Bentley Reserve in San Francisco on March 6. But he emphasized that there is still much work ahead.
From Left to Right: Nelson Colon, Rita Moreno, Darren Walker, Diana Campoamor, Maria Hinojosa
“There are still people who ask, ‘Why does diversity matter?’” Walker said, as chuckles rippled through the audience of approximately 250 philanthropic and civil sector leaders.
“The cathedral of social justice has yet to be finished,” he said, “But, thanks to HIP, that cathedral has a strong foundation.”
At the end of his speech, Walker urged the audience to participate in promoting and protecting everyone’s right to be heard.
The Ford Foundation leader was introduced by banquet emcee Maria Hinojosa, founder of the Futuromedia news production nonprofit and its “Latino USA” NPR program, for which she is executive producer and anchor. Hinojosa is also one of 30 HIP Givers honored at the celebration and profiled in a special edition of Hispanic Executive magazine. She remarked that Hispanics in Philanthropy has become the “narrator on Giving Back.”
Guests at the sold-out gala were treated to a performance by Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy award-winner Rita Moreno, who sang two songs in English and one in Spanish, accompanied by a pianist. She wore an elegant, long black dress with diamond necklace and earrings.
Moreno, a philanthropist who received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2004, charmed the audience by sharing stories from her youth and some of the culture shock that her family experienced in moving from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland.
HIP appreciates the support of its network and its sponsors for the gala’s success. Among others, the sponsors included: Marguerite Casey Foundation, The California Endowment, Wells Fargo, Diageo, Arcus Foundation, American Express, The California Wellness Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente.