Centro de Información is celebrating 50 years of helping immigrants with a fundraising gala
Centro de Información is celebrating 50 years of helping immigrants assimilate into their new surroundings.
Often identified as the first stop on the road to American citizenship, this nonprofit organization offers access to a justice program, resources for families, employment, housing, immigration and naturalization, banking and credit, and how to find insurance.
"I was born in Mexico City and then moved as a child to a very small town in North Dakota, where there were very few Spanish-speaking immigrants back in the 1970s," said Dianha Ortega-Ehreth, executive director at Centro de Información, in an email.
"It would have been life-changing for my family to have had access to an organization like Centro. All immigrants - not just Spanish-speaking ones - are lucky to have agencies like Centro de Información here to help them. What benefits them helps all residents of Illinois so that newcomers are welcomed and acclimated into the economy and culture and contribute richly. I am so thankful that Illinois is a state that welcomes people like me."
Centro de Información has its main office in Elgin, with branches in Carpentersville and Hanover Park.
To keep these programs going, Centro de Información is hosting its 50th anniversary gala Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Q Center in St. Charles, 1405 N. 5th Ave.
Ortega-Ehreth discusses the nonprofit's programs and offers more details about the fundraising gala.
Q: What is Centro de Información? Give a brief overview of what the organization does.
A: Centro de Información is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with offices in Elgin, Hanover Park and Carpentersville that provides immigration and naturalization services, employment aid, emergency food pantry, educational classes, public benefits outreach and advocacy and more.
Centro's mission is to empower Hispanics with the ability to effectively integrate into our greater community through the facilitation of information, education, citizenship, and well-being.
Q: Where do the majority of your donations come from?
A: Centro collaborates with private and public sectors to maximize resources to provide relevant and high-quality services. In fiscal year 2021, 40% of our funding came from government grants and contracts and 23% of our funding came from individual and corporate contributions/donations.
Q: How many people per year do you serve?
A: In fiscal year 2021, Centro served 7,172 people, which was down from previous years because of COVID. In 2019, Centro served more than 13,000 people.
Q: What are some of your programs?
A: Translation services, immigration and naturalization counseling, citizen workshops, parenting classes, resource fairs, emergency food pantry, public benefits outreach and advocacy - and a handful more!
Q: Tell us about the upcoming anniversary gala.
A: The 50th year anniversary, called "Celebrando 50 - Forging Our Future, Honoring Our History," will take place 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Q Center in St. Charles.
We will come together to celebrate the richness that comes from diversity and the beauty found in a united community.
There will be a four-course meal, outstanding entertainment, and exciting live and silent auctions, as well as special awards to be presented to individuals who have been significant to Centro's success in the community.
Individual tickets are $125 per person, and there are a variety of sponsorships still available ranging from $1,000 to $15,000.
For details or tickets, visit centro50.givesmart.com.
Q: How can people participate?
A: We would love people to participate by attending! Attendees will financially support Centro's mission and help a special gathering of leaders and supporters celebrate the organization's golden anniversary.
The silent and live auctions are really spectacular, too, if one is looking to "shop" and give back at the same time: Xbox raffle, a signed Contreras Cubs jersey, Chicago Bulls tickets, children's toys and there will even be a "jewelry tree."
People who are not able to attend can also donate to Centro at centro50.givesmart.com.
Q: What else would you like readers to know?
A: There will be a "Museum of Centro," which will be very interesting to people who have served in the Hispanic community across Chicagoland over the decades. Centro was started by a Spanish Council of local churches and opened its offices only one day a week back in 1972.
Now Centro has offices in three locations and has multiple partners and a new executive director who wants to help Centro prepare for a projected increase in immigrants to the Northwest Chicago suburbs.
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Centro de Información fundraiser
What: 50th anniversary gala titled "Celebrando 50 - Forging Our Future, Honoring Our History"
When: 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1
Where: Q Center, 1405 N. 5th Ave., St. Charles.
Cost: $125 per person for individual tickets; sponsorships available ranging from $1,000 to $15,000
Details or tickets: centro50.givesmart.com