Here’s a look at the highlights that made these past few weeks unforgettable, from our recent successes and moments of connection to the achievements of our students and community. Plus, Esperanza is counting down to an exciting celebration you won’t want to miss!
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One Month Away! Secure Your Tickets for Fiesta of Hope 2025: Tropigala!
We are just ONE MONTH from Cleveland’s most vibrant celebration of Culture, Community, and Education! Get ready for an unforgettable night filled with tropical flair, live entertainment, and the inspiring stories of those making a difference in our community.
This year, our organization is proud to honor our 2025 Esperanza Philanthropists of the Year:
🏆 Lifetime Achievement Award – Cuyahoga Community College
🏆 Corporate Philanthropy Award – AT&T
🏆 Foundation Philanthropy Award – Cleveland Foundation
🏆 Humanitarian Award – Margaret W. Wong & Associates
Saturday, September 13, 2025, The Hotel Cleveland | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Tickets are selling fast! https://esperanzainc.org/fiesta-of-hope/
✨ For ticketing, sponsorships, or event info, contact: Eliza Semidei, Events Manager, elizabeths@esperanzainc.org | ☎ 216.651.7178 Ext. 6030
Esperanza’s 16th Annual Back-to-School Celebration Empowers the Community!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 16th Annual Esperanza Back-to-School Celebration!
We are so grateful for the families who came to celebrate with us, this event is for you! Esperanza is committed to ensuring every child starts the year fully prepared and ready to succeed. A special thank you to all of our incredible partners who shared valuable resources that our community depends on. Your support makes a lasting impact. The contributions of our sponsors bring this celebration to life year after year. Thank you for your continued generosity!
KeyBank
Cleveland Clinic
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
The Welsh Academy at Saint Ignatius High School
Dollar Bank
Metro West Community Development Organization
CareSource
McDonald’s – Clark-Fulton
To our dedicated staff, volunteers, and board members, your hard work and passion are at the heart of everything we do. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our mission.
A big shoutout to FUEGO Cleveland for providing the music, entertainment, and infectious energy that set the tone for the day! 🎶
And of course, a massive THANK YOU to our presenting sponsor, AT&T.
Your longstanding partnership with us has been a cornerstone of our success, and we are so thankful for your continued support.
Make sure to follow our social media pages for even more celebration coverage!
In June, over 600 AT&T employees gathered in Dallas to break not one, but two Guinness World Records:
- Most backpacks stuffed with school supplies in one hour: 10,000
- Most people stuffing backpacks simultaneously: 633!
This monumental effort wasn’t just about setting records; it was about giving back. The backpacks filled with essential school supplies were distributed nationwide, including right here in Cleveland during our celebration!
🎉 The Esperanza Team wins 1st Place! 🎉
Our Avanzando Through College students proudly represented Esperanza, Inc. at the 2025 UnidosUS Annual Conference, and brought home 1st place in the national “Fund Your Future Pitch Competition!”
Their winning idea? Avanzo: a web and mobile app designed to empower first-generation Latino college students with financial literacy through gamified learning and culturally relevant engagement. From interactive lessons and glossaries to news updates and trusted resources, Avanzo transforms stories of sacrifice into tools for success, one student, one lesson, one step at a time.
Sponsored by Experian B.A.L.L. for Life, the competition awarded $10,000 to Esperanza in honor of the team’s outstanding work!
Meet the winning team:
- Lizzette Badillo – Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering,
- Case Western Reserve University
- Jonathan Pacheco – Psychology, Cleveland State University
- Eric Cid Valdez – Finance, The Ohio State University
- Ricardo Mejía – Nursing, Case Western Reserve University
- Sarahi Alamilla – Politics & Philosophy, Oberlin College
Huge appreciation to our dedicated Post-Secondary team, President & CEO Margaret Sanchez for her leadership, Board Member Dr. Nicholas S. Mays for his support and representation at the conference, financial advisor Samuel Noyola for his incredible mentorship, and everyone who supported them throughout this journey.
Special thanks to our generous funders: The Cleveland Foundation and Nancy Mendez, CEO of Starting Point, for believing in the potential of our scholars. Congratulations team! We are so proud of you all!
Building Brighter Futures with CMSD!
A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Warren Morgan and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District team for joining us for this meaningful conversation on shaping a stronger future for our students. Thank you to our Esperanza staff and board for making this event possible, to everyone who attended for your active participation and thoughtful questions, our friends at Telemundo Cleveland, and to our community partners for showing up in support of this important dialogue. This conversation is just the beginning!
We are looking forward to even more collaboration with CMSD and to hosting future presentations right here at Esperanza, which has been advancing educational attainment for YOUR community for over 43 years!
Congratulations to our President & CEO, Margaret D. Sanchez!
Esperanza, Inc. proudly celebrates Margaret D. Sanchez for being named one of the 2025 Cleveland 500 by Cleveland Magazine, honoring influential leaders shaping the future of our region!
We also extend heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s honorees. Your leadership uplifts our entire community.
Celebrating at the Cleveland Puerto Rican Parade & Expo!
Esperanza, Inc. was once again proud to have been part of this vibrant celebration of community, culture, and pride! From connecting with families and community members at our expo table to marching through the streets during the parade, every moment was filled with energy and unity!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table to learn more about our mission, and to all those who cheered us on during the parade! Your support means the world to us!
A Day of Gratitude, Games, and Great Company!
Our entire team came together for one of our favorite annual traditions, the Esperanza Family Picnic! Thanks to the generosity of our incredible Board of Directors, this special day brought together our team, their families, and guests from our youth summer programs to relax, reconnect, and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon in community.
From delicious food and fun games to raffles, laughter, and sunshine, it was a day filled with joy, connection, and community spirit. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Board of Directors, not only for treating us to such a memorable day, but for their leadership, generosity, and year-round commitment to our mission. Your guidance continues to shape a stronger, more united Esperanza. Here’s to the friendships we have built, the impact we continue to make, and many more moments like this to come.
SOMOS ESPERANZA!
Join us in Empowering Northeast Ohio!
At Esperanza, We Translate to HOPE. Will you be Esperanza too?
