Centro de Informacion recognizes service at annual luncheon

Jane Barbosa grew up in a family that emphasized service, laying the foundation for her lifetime helping others. On Thursday, the Elgin woman was recognized by Centro de Informacion for her work in the community.

“Giving Jane Barbosa a community service award is like giving Mother Teresa the Nobel Peace Prize,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Centro de Informacion. “It’s a no-brainer.”

Barbosa has given her time to dozens of community events over the years, working with Elgin Community College, Provena St. Joseph Hospital, St. Joseph’s Church and, of course, Centro de Informacion, among other groups.

“Jane has been and is a pillar of our community,” Garcia said.

Barbosa told a crowd gathered for Centro’s annual luncheon that the people who deserve her award are the ones who worked hard for the community before the awards even existed and taught people like her what to do.

Centro de Informacion is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, with its annual luncheon a special part of the “Celebrando 40” activities. The social service organization started out as a ministry of the Roman Catholic and United Methodist churches in Elgin and later became a community agency dedicated to connecting immigrants to resources and helping them integrate into the wider community.

Centro works with mostly Spanish-speaking immigrants in the Elgin area and has grown from a part-time office to full-time nonprofit with satellite locations in Carpentersville and Hanover Park. Garcia highlighted the organization’s immigration and naturalization services Thursday, emphasizing Centro’s mission to help Latinos integrate into the wider community.

In 2011 alone, Centro helped 137 people become citizens. The organization serves about 15,000 people each year, with its emergency food pantry reaching more than 35,000 people in the last five years, according to Garcia.

Centro’s board of directors also recognized Jerry Cain with the William Castillo Humanitarian of the Year award for Cain’s contributions as president of Judson University, a post from which he will be retiring this year.

Garcia said Cain has always had a focus on diversity at Judson, starting a scholarship program through the League of United Latin American Citizens and hiring Latino professors and staff members for various positions.

“He is a very caring and humble man who wants to serve God and his community,” Garcia said.

Carlos Sanchez was recognized as a volunteer at Centro de Informacion, donating his time over the last few years and taking some of the pressure off Centro staff members.

The Celebrando 40 festivities will continue with a gala set for Oct. 6. Visit centrodeinformacion.org for more.