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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
July 11, 2012 Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
LAS VEGAS—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) presented the 2012 Affiliate of the Year Award to the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA), an organization committed to making a difference in the lives of at-risk Latino youth and families. AAMA was recognized at the Awards Gala on July 10 at the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“As one of the largest and best-run nonprofits in the country, AAMA has served as a model and mentor to many other community-based organizations in the NCLR Affiliate Network,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR. “As an active, committed participant in NCLR’s advocacy initiatives at the local and national level, AAMA has been one of our most engaged and dedicated allies. And our ongoing partnership in programs such as education and leadership development has helped expand NCLR’s reach into the Texas Latino community.”
Founded in 1970, AAMA has grown into one of the most influential nonprofits in Texas, offering a comprehensive array of innovative programs and services to more than 22,000 individuals each year in Houston, San Antonio, and Laredo. Some of the organization’s crowning achievements include:
• The creation of the Adelante education program which serves more than 1,200 adult students each year and operates four locations in Houston’s East End and North Side, offering a comprehensive curriculum to provide adults with the skills and education necessary to enter and advance in the workplace
• The founding of the George I. Sanchez (GIS) School a charter school designed to more effectively address the growing Latino dropout rate in Houston’s East End through a unique education model that incorporates small class sizes, an innovative curriculum, and support services
• The establishment of numerous counseling, prevention, and treatment programs for Texas youth and adults
In addition to honoring AAMA—an Affiliate in NCLR’s Texas Region—with a $25,000 cash award, NCLR also recognized a Regional Honoree from each of its five other regions. Each honoree was presented with a $5,000 cash award on Monday, July 9, at the Affiliate Leadership Breakfast. The 2012 Regional Honorees included Community HousingWorks (California Region); Valle del Sol (Far West Region); Sociedad Latina (Northeast Region); El Barrio, Inc. (Midwest Region); and Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!) (Southeast Region).
The Affiliate of the Year Award, sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund, is the highest honor bestowed on an NCLR Affiliate for exemplary nonprofit management, service to its community, and active engagement in and promotion of NCLR’s programmatic and advocacy initiatives. Presented annually, the award provides NCLR with an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the winning Affiliate and the positive impact it has made on the lives of Latinos.
“At Ford we are committed not only to a thriving and successful company, but also to thriving and successful communities. This is why we are proud to support the NCLR Affiliate of the Year Award,” said Joedis Avila, Community Outreach Manager, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We trust that our support will help AAMA and the rest of the regional winners continue their hard work serving their communities and making a difference in the lives of Latinos.”
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
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