CASA CENTRAL HONORED ILLINOIS COMPTROLLER SUSANA A. MENDOZA, PEOPLES GAS AND KENILWORTH UNION CHURCH

• THE EVENING FEATUREd AMERICAN LABOR LEADER AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, DOLORES HUERTA, PRESIDENT & FOUNDER OF DOLORES HUERTA FOUNDATION, AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND ANA BELAVAL, NEWS REPORTER AND TV PERSONALITY AS THE EMCEE.

• HONOREES were PRESENTED WITH THEIR AWARDS AT CASA CENTRAL’S FIRST EVER DRIVE-IN MOVIE GALA

Chicago, Illinois – Casa Central honored Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza, Peoples Gas and Kenilworth Union Church at its first-ever Drive-In Movie Gala on Thursday, September 24, 2020. The annual event is hosted to honor individuals and organizations for their commitment to Casa Central’s core values and mission, and for their impact on the families and communities across the Chicago Metropolitan area. Over 200 business, community and civic leaders attended this year’s event. Casa Central’s 2020 honorees received the following awards:

- Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza (Pastora San Juan Cafferty Legacy Award). Honored for being a strong advocate of Chicago’s Latino population and for her continuous support to fulfill Casa Central’s mission of transforming lives.

- Peoples Gas (Corporate Partner Award). Honored for being a strong supporter of Casa Central and its mission. For over 20 years, Peoples Gas has provided financial support, in-kind donations and volunteer hours to help Casa Central serve communities across the Chicagoland area. 

- Kenilworth Union Church (Community Builder Award). Honored for the financial and in-kind support it has provided Casa Central, its programs, volunteerism, and the communities it serves.

“We were excited to honor these individuals and organizations at Casa Central’s special night. Their spirit of service and giving aligns with Casa Central’s mission of transforming the lives of those in need. We were pleased to be able to recognize each of them for their commitment to Casa Central, our community and the families we serve” said Martin R. Castro, President and CEO of Casa Central. “We were also honored that civil rights icon and American hero, Dolores Huerta was our keynote speaker.”

About the event: Casa Central hosted its first-ever Drive-In Movie Gala. While safely social distancing at a private, outdoor movie theater, attendees came together in their cars to celebrate #FuturoIsLatina, recognize the powerful impact Casa Central has made in our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and honor those who have allowed the organization to continue providing award-winning care to Chicago’s most vulnerable populations during times of crisis.

Casa Central’s #FuturoIsLatina Drive-In Movie Gala brought recognition to the impact and success of the many Latinas who have been a part of Casa Central's past, present, and its future. These dynamic Latina leaders play a significant role in advancing Casa Central’s mission to transform lives of people in diverse populations, champion equality, and draw upon the strength of diversity and inclusion to create positive social change.

The evening featured Dolores Huerta, President & Founder of Dolores Huerta Foundation, as the keynote speaker, and Ana Belaval, News Reporter at WGN-TV and TV Personality, as the EMCEE, bringing to light this year's organizational theme, #FuturoIsLatina. The movie viewed after the program was the Academy-award winning film, Frida.

Casa Central’s Drive-In Movie Gala Sponsors included:  BMO Harris Bank, ComEd, Allstate, Humana, Peoples Gas, Combined Insurance, Jewel Osco, The Blassie Families from Belleville, Illinois., EY, La Preferida and Monahan Law Group.

About Casa Central

Casa Central was established in 1954 to address the needs of Chicago’s growing Latinx population. Now one of the largest Latinx social service agencies in the Midwest, Casa Central served approximately 10,000 individuals in Fiscal Year 2019, pursuing our mission to “transform lives and strengthen communities with a special focus on Hispanics. Our network of social services propels a diverse population of all ages toward self-sufficiency and a higher quality of life.” Our comprehensive bilingual, multicultural programs address the root causes of problems facing low-income individuals and families from throughout the City of Chicago and are focused in three areas: Inspiring Lifelong Learning among Children and Youth; Providing Safety and Fostering Self-Reliance for Individuals and Families; and Promoting Active, Healthy Lifestyles for Older Adults.

To learn more about Casa Central and its mission, visit www.CasaCentral.org or follow us on all social media platforms @CasaCentral.