CCF – Cesar Chavez Foundation

California Resources Corporation’s Commitment to Cesar Chavez’s Legacy

March 28, 2025, by CCF

We are thrilled to announce California Resources Corporation (CRC) as one of the presenting sponsors for the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards.

Cesar Chavez dedicated his life to uplifting the lives of the most vulnerable people. He envisioned a future in which the causes he championed would prevail and his community would prosper. Today, the Cesar Chavez Foundation is committed to carrying on Cesar’s Legacy by uplifting and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural, and community needs.

CRC is a key partner that shares our vision, is deeply committed to environmental stewardship, and works to provide local, responsibly produced energy and innovative carbon management solutions.

Beyond their environmental efforts, CRC plays an active role in transforming communities. They have made significant investments in student enrichment programs, including supporting educational field trips to the National Chavez Center (NCC), an arm of the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

“CRC has been a great partner to the National Chavez Center over the last year as they have demonstrated their strong commitment to our mission and work through their support of NCC programs and events. The support CRC provided has enabled the NCC to offer a number of field trips to youth and their families, allowing them to visit the César E. Chávez National Monument and surrounding area. We look forward to our continued partnership with CRC to expand the legacy and values of Cesar Chavez,” shared Andres Chavez, Executive Director of the National Chavez Center.

Through specialized programs, students can learn about the life of Cesar Chavez and the causes he passionately supported. They are able to engage in many different activities, including art projects, hiking, and yoga, an activity Cesar faithfully embraced throughout his life.

“At CRC, we are committed to making a lasting, positive impact on families and communities across California by investing in education, economic empowerment, and sustainability. Our partnership with the National Chavez Center reflects this commitment, providing immersive experiences that honor Cesar Chavez’s legacy and connect individuals to history, culture, and social justice. Through the ‘A Day in the Life of Cesar’ educational trips, we are proud to help bring communities together, fostering a deeper understanding of civil rights activism and inspiring future generations. We look forward to continuing this partnership to enrich even more lives,” shared Francisco Leon, Chief Executive Officer and President of the California Resources Corporation.

CRC has made a lasting and transformative impact on students, shaping their futures and empowering them to make meaningful contributions to society. Through our shared efforts, we will continue to uplift and inspire communities, honoring Cesar’s legacy and creating positive change that strengthens communities for generations to come.

A message from Chavez Foundation President Manuel Bernal

March 26, 2025, by CCF

The ideals and values of our founder remain steadfast in the work of our organization and in the countless commemorative events, marches, and celebrations taking place as Cesar Chavez Day approaches. From Yuma, Arizona, to San Antonio, Texas, I’ve gathered and marched with thousands of you to honor and uplift Cesar’s legacy.

Our Movement has always been about more than wages or working conditions—it is about people: the right to be seen, to be heard, and to be valued. Now, more than ever, we must ensure that Cesar’s life’s work and vision endure for future generations. We draw strength, courage, and resolve from remembering our Movement’s roots and the unwavering belief that change is possible when we stand together.

Cesar’s faith in people moved the masses to believe they could overcome even the most insurmountable odds. He taught us that you only lose when you give up. That message is just as powerful today as it was over 60 years ago, when this Movement was founded to challenge the weight of poverty, discrimination, and powerlessness.

As we carry that spirit forward, I want to share news of an important transition within our leadership—one that reflects our continued growth and unwavering commitment to our mission.

I’m proud to share that Dr. Celia Garcia Alvarado has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Chavez Foundation. With a distinguished history at the Foundation—most recently serving as Executive Vice President of the Education Fund—Celia brings deep strategic insight and operational excellence. Her leadership will help us advance our mission and strengthen the organization.

I’m also excited to announce that Sarah Grams has been promoted to Executive Vice President of the Education Fund. Sarah has been instrumental in advancing our education initiatives, and in her new role, she will continue to lead growth and innovation in this vital area.

I look to the future of the Chavez Foundation with great confidence in their leadership and dedication.

My personal commitment remains steadfast: to continue advancing our mission of transforming lives, guided by the enduring values that Cesar instilled in all of us. Recent events have prompted us to reaffirm our dedication to inspiring and transforming communities. We have formed a task force to strengthen our organization and ensure staff and community safety. It will actively monitor policy changes to provide aligned responses that reflect CCF’s core values.

Together, we will keep building a future rooted in justice, compassion, and unity. Thank you for your continued support.

Manuel H. Bernal
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cesar Chavez Foundation

Boston Financial Announced as Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards

March 12, 2025, by CCF

We are proud to celebrate Boston Financial, a presenting sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards.

At the Cesar Chavez Foundation, we carry on Cesar’s life’s work of uplifting and transforming Latino and working families by inspiring and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural, and community needs. We are committed to creating opportunities that empower people to thrive on all fronts.

For almost 60 years, Boston Financial has been at the forefront of affordable housing capital solutions and investment management, creating hundreds of thousands of affordable housing opportunities nationwide. Boston Financial is America’s largest syndicator of affordable housing and envisions a future where everyone has a home. With each investment, they are steadily working toward this transformative goal.

“Boston Financial could not be more proud to serve as a presenting sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards,” said Roy Faerber, Senior Managing Director at Boston Financial. “There is an undeniable correlation between stable housing for families and the health, educational achievement, and economic opportunity for an entire community. We have immense respect for the decades of work that the Cesar Chavez Foundation has put into raising up communities and bringing the dignity of affordable housing to thousands of families.”

Boston Financial has been an instrumental partner in the creation of the Chavez Foundation’s newest affordable housing community, Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II—a high-quality, service-enhanced community for working families in El Monte, California.

Plaza Ortiz II, named in honor of the 19-year-old El Monte native who was killed during the Korean War and whose remains were returned nearly 70 years after he was reported missing in action, offers 53 units of 100 percent affordable housing, along with community services such as the Si Se Puede Learning Center, the Chavez Foundation’s flagship after-school program for K-5 students.

The combined efforts of the Chavez Foundation and Boston Financial have had a positive and lasting impact on the El Monte community, including residents like Marlee Martinez. “Living in Plaza Ortiz has positively changed my family’s life. Our new home has brought us closer together and provided great educational and healthcare opportunities” said Marlee.

“Affordable housing is not just about developing housing; it’s about building thriving communities. Partners like Boston Financial, with their expertise and dedication to affordable housing investments, play a crucial role in ensuring long-term, sustainable solutions. Their commitment to fostering economic growth and stability within communities helps create environments where residents can truly thrive. Together with the residents, they lay the foundation for transformative change, setting the standard for what can be achieved both individually and as a community” shared Alfredo Izmajtovich, Vice President of the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s Housing and Economic Development Fund.

We are thrilled to have Boston Financial as a presenting sponsor for the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards and celebrate their commitment to positive change.

We look forward to our continued partnership as we work to achieve our shared mission.

Announcing the 2025 Speakers Bureau

The National Chavez Center Speakers Bureau is a year-round program dedicated to sharing Cesar Chavez’s life and legacy. Official Speakers and representatives from the National Chavez Center present at nationwide conferences, community-based events, marches, universities, and more, lending contemporary meaning to Cesar’s core beliefs and values.

To learn more, please submit a Speakers Request Form.

2025 Speakers Bureau

: Manuel Bernal

: Andres Chavez

: Paul F. Chavez

: Connie Perez-Andreesen

: Lorraine Agtang

: Arturo S. Rodriguez

: Teresa Chavez Delgado

: Anthony Chavez

: Marc Grossman

: Cesar L. Chavez

: Roberto Bustos

: Eric Romero

Honoring Cesar Chavez: The Legacy & Impact of the Cesar Chavez Foundation

February 25, 2025, by CCF

As we celebrate Cesar Chavez Month, we reflect on his lasting legacy and how his work continues through the Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF). Founded to uphold his vision of justice and empowerment, the foundation focuses on education, affordable housing, media, and preserving Cesar’s legacy—ensuring his mission thrives for generations.

Education Fund: Educating Hearts & Minds

In the 1960s, Chávez and his colleagues created the Huelga School in Delano, providing farmworkers’ children with access to education during the grape strike. Later, he established a Montessori school at La Paz for movement staff families.

The Education Fund continues this commitment today by providing diverse, culturally responsive programs in under-resourced communities. Its goal is to impact one million students by 2028.

Housing & Economic Development: Building Stronger Communities

Chavez often called migrant farmworkers “the original homeless.” Having experienced this struggle firsthand, he prioritized affordable housing through what is now the Housing & Economic Development Fund.

The foundation’s first housing project, the Paulo Agbayani Retirement Village, provided Filipino farmworkers with dignity and stability. Today, CCF manages over $900 million in affordable housing, transforming the lives of thousands of families, seniors, and youth.

Chavez Media: Amplifying Voices

Recognizing the power of media to mobilize change, Chavez established Radio Campesina, its flagship program, in 1983 to entertain and instill a sense of community among Latinos and working families.

Today, Chavez Media reaches millions of multicultural audiences across multiple touchpoints, engaging a multi-generational, multicultural audience. Its abiding mission is to promote Cesar’s legacy by motivating people to use the resources available and be active participants in shaping their lives and communities.

National Chavez Center: Preserving a Legacy

The National Chavez Center ensures that Cesar’s legacy remains a beacon for future generations. From national days of service to heritage summits and the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, it serves as a place of education, reflection, and community-building.

La Paz, where Chavez spent his final years, continues to embody his principles of nonviolence, self-sacrifice, and service—a lasting tribute to his life’s work.

Be Part of This Legacy

Cesar Chavez believed in the power of community. Join us in celebrating his life and ensuring his mission continues.

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Together, we keep the movement alive. ¡Sí, Se Puede!

Author: CCF