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WASHINGTON, DC - NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will present the 2011 Affiliate of the Year Award to Mary’s Center, an organization dedicated to improving access to comprehensive bilingual care for low-income, uninsured pregnant women and their children. Mary’s Center will be recognized on July 26, 2011 at the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
“In just two decades, Mary’s Center has evolved from a small neighborhood organization into one of the capital’s premier nonprofit institutions. We are delighted to have the opportunity to honor this acclaimed organization and its tireless, nationally recognized leader, Maria Gomez, in their hometown,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
Founded in 1988, Mary’s Center initially focused on maternal and child care for immigrant women from Central America in the predominantly Latino areas in the District of Columbia. Today, Mary’s Center is a federally qualified health center that provides primary care and enabling services to underserved, underinsured, and uninsured immigrants from various countries around the world. In 2010, it served more than 18,000 clients from over 40 countries, including roughly 10,000 adults and 8,000 children. It provides immigrants with services such as prenatal care, home visits, family planning, and primary care for children and adolescents, as well as help with school and job placement.
In addition to honoring Mary’s Center—an Affiliate in NCLR’s Southeast Region—with a $25,000 grant, NCLR will also recognize a Regional Honoree from each of its five other regions. They will each receive a $5,000 award on Saturday, July 23, at the National Affiliate Luncheon. The 2011 Regional Awardees are Youth Policy Institute (California Region); HELP–New Mexico Inc. (Far West Region); Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. (APM) (Northeast Region); The Resurrection Project (Midwest Region); and The Concilio (Texas Region).
The Affiliate of the Year Award, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund, is the highest honor bestowed on an NCLR Affiliate in recognition of exemplary work in serving its community and supporting NCLR’s policy and programmatic initiatives. Presented annually, the award provides NCLR with an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the winning Affiliate and spotlight the positive impact it has made on the lives of Latinos.
“Ford has a legacy of commitment toward the Hispanic community by supporting programs that bolster communities even in challenging times,” said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We are proud to support an award that recognizes those organizations that contribute to the advancement of the Hispanic community.”
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 us on Facebook and Twitter. |
