Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Hispanic Heritage

The Moreno Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted the Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Thursday, Sept. 19, sponsored by Universal Strike Bowling & Family Entertainment Center. The night began with the introduction of the 2013 Board of Directors Thomas Carlos Ketcham, President and host; Dr. Martinrex Kedziora, Vice-President; Janet McMillian, Secretary; and LaDonna Jempson, Treasurer. Free food along with activities such as face painting, jump houses, and bowling were provided. A raffle was run all night, where various gifts ranging from gift cards to cooking utensils were raffled. Treasurer Jempson said, “With Moreno Valley having over 50 percent of its population Hispanic, this is an opportunity for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to promote the culture. It’s an educational opportunity, and what’s most important, I feel is that we are exposing what Hispanic heritage is all about.” The celebration also welcomed and presented new members of the chamber and the services that these organizations and businesses have to offer. The services ranged from medical to financial and from insurances to programs that aid students attempting higher education. Jempson said the event participation was “probably one of the largest turnouts” the event had seen, “which was a good thing. That gave a little more exposure” to the businesses, she shared. She also shared that each year the Chamber brings something different to the event; this year, the Chamber offered Moreno Valley students the opportunity to share what they felt was the importance and meaning of their Hispanic heritage with an essay contest. Student winners were Pilar Perez from Hendrick Elementary School, Viviana Cortez from Sunnymead Middle School, and Arlene Herrera from Valley View High School. The winners were awarded $100 gift cards to Walmart/Sam’s Club, shared Jempson. For entertainment, Ballet Folklórico “Orgullo Mexicano” and the Ballet Folklórico Association of Moreno Valley performed traditional Mexican dances. This year, the Chamber also partnered with Victory Outreach Church, shared Jempson. The event was also sponsored in part by Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley. [END] Word Count: 192 Hispanic Heritage Celebration Date: Thursday, September 19, 2013 Time: 5:30 p.m. Event Location: Universal Strike Bowl & Entertainment Center Address: 23750 Alessandro Blvd., Ste. K Moreno Valley CA 92553 Description: Hosted by Moreno Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Free food, entertainment & more. Thru 7:30 p.m. INTERVIEW NOTES WITH Treasurer LaDonna Jempson CONDUCTED BY BREE on 9/30 at PM: I’ve been with the chamber going on 4 years, and it’s an event that we had agreed with the city for us to be the host chamber of the hispanic heritage celebration. Different things every year always promoted the hispanic heritage I would be guessing-can confirm with our board members, who is a previous president and he would know. I’m going to guess at least 10 years. We try to do is always promote our members-local businesses we probably had the best turn out this year that we’ve had in the past, and that allowed the members to mingle with the community. we probably had one of the largest turn outs also, which was a good thing. That gave a little more exposure. We try to always have some type of cultural event. We had the ballet folklorico, KBCV Studio-dance team and also the fashion show. That was new to this year. Essay contest was new- we’ve done similar items int he past but hte essay contest filtered through the schools and our english leraners were promoted to... the teachers promoted students to write essays about what hispanic heritage was all about. We were able to award them with $!00 gift card from walmart sams club. Havent done that before. That was a good thing. Partnered with Victory OUtreach. Trying to do more partnerships in the city to promote both our members in what they do and conserves on cost also, because usually we do recieve (Marion Ashley) sponosred the event this year, so we invited victory outreach to join and use the bowling center, the netertainment center, who is one of our membres. Win win situation for everyone.