Hispanics in Philanthropy Continues After 25 Years of Giving

Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), a network of funders committed to Latino communities, celebrated its 25th anniversary and the organization's commitment to increasing resources for Hispanic communities in the U.S. and Latin America. Over the past 25 years, HIP has raised nearly $38 million, brought together 163 funding partners and supported nearly 500 Latino nonprofits in the U.S. and Latin America.

HIP was founded in 1983 when a handful of Latinos working in philanthropy recognized the value of coming together to encourage greater investments in Hispanic communities. More than 25 years later, HIP is an active network of more than 550 philanthropic leaders that has supported communities, leaders and organizations across the United States and Latin America.

"It's because of organizations like Hispanics in Philanthropy that our Latino communities across America can feel empowered for real social change," said Soledad O'Brien, CNN anchor and special correspondent, and one of five leaders honored by HIP. "I am honored to be chosen as one of HIP's distinguished Latina honorees. As a journalist who so often reports on people in need, the least I can do is shed some light on these important stories that need to be told."

With the theme "Cambio" (change), five leaders were hosnored with the HIP Leadership Award for sowing meaningful social change in Latino communities. Time Warner Inc. hosted the sold-out event, which attracted 150 foundation CEOs, philanthropic and corporate leaders, and nonprofit managers. "The significance of this moment and the theme 'Cambio' are not lost on me," said Lisa Quiroz, senior vice president of Corporate Responsibility at Time Warner. "The country has voted for change, and we can help lead that change with one united Latino voice."

The other recipients of the HIP Leadership Award were Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union; Lin-Manual Miranda, star, creator & composer of the Tony-winning Broadway musical In the Heights; Luis Ubinas, president of the Ford Foundation; and Linda Griego, CEO of Griego Enterprises and a trustee of the Packard Foundation.

"When Hispanics in Philanthropy started 25 years ago, Hispanics were an invisible minority, unseen and unheard in the philanthropic world," said Ubinas, the first Latino president of the Ford Foundation. "Hispanics in Philanthropy deserves credit for opening doors and for raising the question, how can business and government [continue to diversify]." Ubinas noted that several large foundations are now led by Latinos.

The honorees spoke of the importance of giving back to their communities and working for social change. O'Brien said her parents taught her "first to succeed in education and then to turn around and help others with the chances we'd been given."

In addition to Time Warner, other sponsors of the event included the Ford Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Wal-Mart.