From the Publisher: In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, La Voz will highlight organizations or individuals that have been instrumental in improving the state of Colorado. For the next five weeks, Citywide Banks, a Division of HTLF Bank, is the sponsor of the 5-week series.
HISPANIC HERITAGE SERIES – PART V
For almost 20 years, Denver native Jim Chavez was the face of the Latin American Educational Foundation (LAEF).
Back in 1998, Chavez was approached and recruited to be on LAEF’s Board of Directors. The position interested him, because Chavez was attracted to the organization’s legacy and history of providing scholarships to Colorado Hispanic and Latino youth to mitigate financial barriers. So, Chavez took the offer and joined LAEF’s Board of Directors until 2004 before he eventually accepted a posi- tion to become the organization’s executive director.
Chavez held the position for 18 years and raised millions of dollars throughout his career to help contribute to the college education of Colorado Hispanic and Latino youth. But after 18 years with LAEF, Chavez has decided to leave his position.
In a phone call with La Voz, Chavez said he made the decision to depart from LAEF because he felt it was time to take time off to reenergize. He announced his decision to leave. Later, over social media Chavez alerted his friends and colleagues of his upcoming departure.
“LAEF is on very solid ground, stable and built for sustainability. With the most dedicated and knowledgeable staff, LAEF is positioned well for the future and will continue to be a valuable resource for future generations of Colorado’s Latino scholars,” Chavez wrote in the post. He named leaders and others like Dora and Bernie Valdez, Robert and Charlotte Lucero, Lena Archuleta and more who he has gotten to know and work with in the post.
Chavez graduated from Colorado State University in 1987 with a degree in accounting. Prior to working in nonprofits and higher education, he worked as a certified public accountant for the prestigious Ernst & Young. Outside of his career, Chavez has served on a variety of boards for entities like the Denver Housing Authority, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, and the Denver Health and Hospital Authority.
Since 1949, LAEF has awarded more than $7,000,000 through 7,000 scholarships. Each year, LAEF awards more than $200,000 to qualifying Hispanic and Latino students in Colorado. The organization also helps Hispanic and Latino youth finish college by establishing community collaboration efforts and by developing support programs for students who are working toward their college degrees.
Chavez adds, “It was incredibly satisfying to help young students understand the college process. It was very, very rewarding to get to know students and see them go off to college and start doing good things in the community to build their careers and give back,” said Chavez. “It was incredibly rewarding. It was also equally rewarding to help develop my staff, help develop their careers, and see them grow.”
As La Voz closes out its Hispanic Heritage Month series, we are thrilled to highlight Chavez whose work has made a difference with hundreds of Latino and Hispanic students in the state. La Voz Publisher, Pauline Rivera adds, “Over 18 years Jim Chavez made unending contributions to LAEF. Chavez helped students seek an easier path to higher education, while helping families support their student. As a current board member of LAEF, I’ve experienced the professionalism, hard work and perseverance of Jim Chavez.”
