[vc_row][vc_column][us_image_slider ids=”3499,3501,3503,3505,3507,3509,3511,3513,3515,3517,3519,3521,3523,3525,3527,3529,3531,3535,3537,3539,3541,3543,3545,3547,3549,3551″][vc_column_text]NEW YORK – November 6, 2017 – Qualitas of Life Foundation (QoLF) – a non-profit organization that provides free, basic financial education specifically tailored to the needs the Hispanic community – celebrated its 10th anniversary last Thursday with a Gala at one of New York’s premier Mexican restaurants – Cosme.
The Gala featured a cocktail reception, a five-course dinner and silent auction. Featured remarks were made by two honorees – Oscar Salazar, Social and Technology Entrepreneur, and Hugh Verrier, Chairman of White & Case. To kick off the night, the City of New York’s Comptroller presented QoLF with an official Commendation in recognition of Qualitas’ decade of efforts to improve financial literacy and the quality of life for Hispanic individuals and families in the city. Sponsors of QoLF include the NFL, Bimbo Bakeries USA, White & Case, Aeroméxico, Cosme, First Republic Bank and Constellation Brands.
“The people here tonight are the reason that an organization like QoLF is viable. We have designed a program to address our audience’s needs for financial education, and we need to expand our program to meet the increasing demand. None of that happens without the support and generosity of our partners, sponsors and donors. This gala is for them,” said Qualitas of Life Founder and Board Chairperson Marcela Orvañanos de Rovzar.
QoLF aims to educate the Hispanic community in New York City and the surrounding areas by providing the tools to make better-informed financial decisions. According to the Federal Trade Commission there are approximately 2.6 million Hispanic households in the U.S. that are unbanked. This represents a tremendous need for the type of basic financial education that QoLF provides.
“We founded this organization 10 years ago with the vision of addressing one of the most important needs of New York’s Hispanic community – financial education. We wanted to help people accomplish their goals. Over the past 10 years we have seen the Hispanic community learn to discuss financial issues, budget, invest and start businesses.”
QoLF raised almost $225K through both its silent auction and pledges for donations during its 10th Anniversary Gala. Each donation to Qualitas of Life Foundation goes directly to its program’s expansion. By increasing the financial literacy of the Hispanic community Qualitas plays a direct role in helping to reduce poverty and increasing social mobility – both of which are key components to an improved standard of living.
“I share the vision of Qualitas and believe in the impact that its programs have on society. Education is the key to change the society that we live in. Financial education in particular is an essential and simple method to provide social inclusion to immigrant communities in this city and throughout the country. We live in a world where walls are being built and Qualitas of Life is an organization that builds bridges,” said Oscar Salazar, Social and Technology Entrepreneur. “Ideas empower people and strengthen their communities. Education and technology are key to help scale these ideas. We want to take the knowledge that Qualitas has built over the past decade and expand it across the country.”
Qualitas of Life Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides basic financial education to Hispanic individuals and their families, in order to foster their financial security and improve their standard of living. We work hand-in-hand with community-based organizations in the tri-state area to provide basic financial education workshops to the Hispanic migrant community. Our workshops are free, bilingual and easy to understand for all of our participants (Spanish for adults, and English for adolescents and children).
Media Contact: Ana Ambrosi (214) 551-7583 | aambrosi@gcya.net[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDc3R5bGUlM0UlMEEucHJlLXBpZS5sLW1haW4lMjAlN0IlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjBkaXNwbGF5JTNBJTIwbm9uZSUzQiUwQSU3RCUwQSUzQyUyRnN0eWxlJTNF[/vc_raw_html][us_single_image image=”3496″ align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]