[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16130]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE FRESNO AREA HISPANIC FOUNDATION FOR BEING NAMED 2014 
                          CHAMBER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2014

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Fresno Area 
Hispanic Foundation for being selected as the 2014 Chamber of the Year 
by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
  The Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation (FAHF), a member of the national 
Hispanic Chamber, was selected from more than 200 chambers for their 
exceptional service and commitment to promoting and supporting Hispanic 
businesses in the region. The award was announced at the U.S. Hispanic 
Chamber of Commerce's national convention in Salt Lake City.
  The Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation, led by President/CEO Dora 
Westerlund, was founded in 2001 by a group of business owners 
determined to find effective and engaging ways to address the needs of 
a dynamic and emerging population. The FAHF, which is the only Hispanic 
Foundation west of the Mississippi to own its facility--The Downtown 
Business Hub, has evolved into a one-stop shop that offers an array of 
resources ranging from networking opportunities to micro-loan programs. 
In addition, the FAHF offers bilingual workshops on small business 
lending and courses on business licenses, market research, operations 
management, and financial statements, to name a few.
  The FAHF also has a very strong philanthropic presence in the San 
Joaquin Valley. Since its inception, the FAHF has focused on assisting 
underserved families in the region by providing academic scholarships 
and personal enrichment activities. Through their scholarship program, 
the FAHF has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships, and their 
Lend-A-Hand program provides over 600 parents and 350 children with 
free food and toys during the holidays. Additionally, the Fresno Area 
Hispanic Foundation, in conjunction with the Mexican Consulate in 
Fresno, established the Plaza Comunitaria in 2003, which touches the 
lives of local children and families through the center's annual events 
and fundraisers.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives 
to join me in recognizing the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation for being 
selected as the 2014 Chamber of the Year by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber 
of Commerce. Their unwavering dedication to the success and growth of 
Hispanic businesses in the San Joaquin Valley and their work to enrich 
the lives of local families is truly commendable. The Fresno Area 
Hispanic Foundation has served as a catalyst for economic growth and 
sets the standard for Chambers of Commerce throughout the nation.

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