Each year the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley recognizes one special Latino family with the La Familia Award for their exemplary service to the community. The selected family is honored at the Foundation’s annual gala event, the Hispanic Foundation Ball.
The 23rd annual Hispanic Foundation Ball was held on Saturday, October 13, 2012, at the San Jose Fairmont Hotel. The Santiago familia were recognized in local media and will be celebrated by the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley all year long!
The first Hispanic Foundation Ball was held in 1990 to raise awareness about the issues affecting the Latino community, to promote volunteerism, celebrate philanthropic leaders, and to provide a vehicle to support nonprofit organizations serving the Hispanic community with cash grants.
2012 La Familia Award Winners – The Santiago Family
La Familia Santiago Have Been Spreading the Spirit of the
Holidays to the community of Alviso for 29 Years
The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is proud to announce that the Santiago Family of Sunnyvale are this year’s recipients of 2012 La Familia Award. The Santiago family has a long standing history of multi-generational volunteerism in the community instilled by family matriarch Judy Santiago and patriarch Joe G. Santiago, Sr.
The family calling first began in 1983, when Alviso, a small community in San Jose, California, was victim of severe winter flooding. It was then that the Santiago’s (Joe and Judy) started the tradition of having Mr. and Mrs. Claus visit Alviso where they handed out candy canes to the children of this underserved and mostly Hispanic neighborhood. Their visits ensured the children of Alviso would still be visited by the spirit of the holidays, despite the natural tragedy surrounding the community.
Judy Santiago, honorary chair and member of the SVAF board of directors has dedicated herself fulltime, without pay for over 29 years to the foundation.
While Judy and Joe G. Santiago, Sr. (deceased) started this family tradition, their children, grandchildren and, now, great grandchildren have willingly and full-heartedly taken on the family calling as well. The Santiago children: Yolanda Santiago, Michelle Wagner (deceased) Danny Santiago (deceased) and Michael Wagner all have contributed their support to the Alviso community. As an example, family members took on the roles of:
• Santa Claus-Danny Santiago
• Running the photo booth- Michelle Wagner
• Running the gift room- Yolanda Santiago
• SVAF day-to-day operations (including managing the website, marketing, financials/tax returns)- Michael Wagner
But it doesn’t end there—the entire Santiago Family volunteers to bring the holiday spirit to the Alviso community, including grandchildren: Vanessa Santiago-Huizar, Bobby Santiago, Debra Doyle, Sean Doyle, Lauren Santiago, Annie Santiago, and Alexa Santiago. Even the first Santiago great grandchild, Austin, contributes to the cause.
The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is proud of its La Familia Award legacy. The Silicon Valley is a better place for Hispanic children and families thanks to the heartfelt dedication of these families.
Read the article: http://www.hfsv.org/events-charity-ball-familia-2012.html