2017 has been a year we won't soon forget. It has been a year of responding to unprecedented natural disasters and harmful national policies; a year of rising up to meet growing challenges to protect the vibrancy and very future of our families and communities. While crises tested us, it was our incomparable ability to bring community together, take action and forge new ground that defined us.
HF touched the lives of more than 175,000 individuals and families with educational programming, hunger relief assistance, health insurance enrollment, immigration assistance and much more. We took decisive action to advance Latino civic engagement by helping to educate, register and mobilize over 120,000 Latinos for municipal elections.
Our commitment to our network of Latino community-based member agencies also grew to a historic $3.0 million in grants to 140 Latino nonprofits. To gain maximum impact, we moved strategically to carry out our policy and program efforts in 20 states. What's more, when disaster hit Puerto Rico and Mexico, we responded as few could: investing more than 12 million dollars in relief and recovery efforts, building 400 homes in Mexico and serving 75 of the 78 municipalities in Puerto Rico with an urgent and continuous supply of food, water, emergency provisions, medical support assistance, and reconstruction projects.
All of this work requires a legion of supporters. Thankfully, our village of donors and partners grew to a record 200,000+ individuals and institutions this year. In short, 2017 saw HF at its finest.
As we look to 2018 and the challenges ahead, we stand ready to reach even greater heights, building together on this impressive body of work, to protect and uplift our values, our people and our nation.
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday season and much health and happiness in the New Year.
Con mucho amor y cariño,
José
