Gisele Barreto Fetterman is an access and equity advocate, a hugger and the Second Lady of Pennsylvania. She is the founder of Freestore 15104, where surplus and donated goods are received and redistributed to neighbors in need. The Freestore aims to eradicate food and clothing insecurity and has inspired 9 spin-off locations and the birth of 412 Food Rescue. Gisele is the co-founder of 412 Food Rescue, a community-wide effort to end hunger and reduce food waste. 412FR has rescued over 5 million pounds of food. She is a co-founder of For Good PGH, a non-profit that works to advocate inclusion and inspire kindness. Its first initiative, Hello Hijab, has received both national and international praise. Gisele was born in Brazil and emigrated as a child to the US, living as an undocumented immigrant for over a decade. Her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, TODAY Show, CNN, NPR and more. Gisele is a Forty under 40 honoree, a Tedx Speaker a Jefferson Awards recipient and a mother of three.
Here is Gisele's Story and a great video about her:
https://aldianews.com/articles/leadership/undocumented-story-gisele-barreto-fetterman/50766
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by commemorating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The Gala, which benefits the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (PMAHCC ) Foundation Educational Fund, will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. Following a cocktail hour, Latin inspired dinner and program with a special guest keynote speaker. Guests will dance the night away to live Latin music and enjoy casino games. Prizes may be won with casino tickets and at our extensive silent auction.
We will announce our 2019 college and graduate school scholarship recipients at the Gala, as well as the 2019 recipient of the "Rob Vega Memorial Scholarship,". Since 2011 PMAHCC has awarded $190,000 to 119 qualifying area students of Hispanic/Latino decent. These students have attended technical schools, colleges, and universities, including Ivy League schools. Year after year, we see an increase in applicants.
Did you know that Hispanics across the nation are opening businesses at a rate of 8 to 1 when compared to other groups? Even with this sign of prosperity, higher education remains a hurdle for this group. Latino Americans, the largest and the fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, yet are half as likely to hold a college degree as non-Hispanic white adults and fewer than a quarter (22.6%) hold a two-year college degree or higher, the lowest of any ethnic group. With the Hispanic population of Pittsburgh seeing 170% growth from 2010 to 2018 (a time when our city lost population overall population), it is more apparent than ever that investing in the future of the local Latinx population is investing in the future of Pittsburgh!
As an organization, we seek to increase educational opportunities by providing scholarships to outstanding Latinx students in the greater Pittsburgh area (based on both merit and financial need). It with your help, that our semi-annual Hispanic Heritage Month Gala has funded our PMAHCC Foundation scholarship program.
More Information
__________________________________________________
Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 4300 ● Pittsburgh PA 15219 U.S.A.
Please Like, Follow and Subscribe us at: