Since its inception, the Hermiston Hispanic Advisory Committee (HAC) has focused on improving the quality of life of the community’s Hispanic residents and has put a special emphasis on education.
On Monday night, the committee heard an update on an effort to form a foundation aimed at providing scholarship money for Hispanic and Latino students.
Attorney George Anderson, an advisor to the HAC, said work is progressing on forming the Eastern Oregon Hispanic Scholarship Foundation. Anderson is in the process of applying for a 401 c3 status to allow contributions to the foundation to be tax free.
Anderson praised the committee for its efforts to address issues of concern facing the Hispanic community such as working with the city to bring the Cinco de Mayo celebrations to the downtown area and assisting in the formation of the Columbia Latino Cultural Alliance.
“This is a logical step for this committee,” Anderson said of the scholarship foundation.
Committee Chairman Eddie de la Cruz also gave an update on the Cinco de Mayo celebration. He said the event was the biggest yet in Hermiston and there are plans to make it a two-day event next year with Saturday dedicated to children and family activities.
