OLA of Eastern Long Island welcomes Latino businesses supporting scholarship fund
OLA of Eastern Long Island (Organización Latino Americana), a nonprofit Latino-focused advocacy organization on the East End, has announced partnerships with several local businesses in support of its mission.
The organization’s ‘Creating Legacies’ initiative brings Latino businesses together to help grow OLA’s scholarship fund, including Johanna Sanchez of Bilingual Law Practice, Joel Vintimilla of JPL Contractor Inc, Juan Lazo of Jimmy Jim’s Delicatessen, Michelle Perez and Isabel Saavedra of Saavedra & Pérez Law, Pilar Quichimbo of Four Oaks Cafe & Juice Bar, Hector Quichimbo and Eulalia Lazo of Montauk Market, and Adrian Sanchez of MIAK Carpentry.
“We are grateful to Ms. Quichimbo and the seven Latino businesses as their support marks an important evolution of our program. From the start of our fund in 2019, it was our intention to create a program that would support the student and family in the fullest way possible.” says Minerva Perez, executive director of OLA. “Now that we have crafted a successful process and structure, we look to our Latino businesses and Latino community members to augment this fund. With Latino business leaders uniting, we can leverage our collective power for lasting impact.”
To date, OLA has awarded 25 East End students with multiyear scholarships for vocational, two year or four-year college or university programs. These scholarships offer recipients $4,500 per year with ongoing financial, academic, and emotional support for the length of their program. OLA’s scholarships have been funded almost solely by board member and philanthropist, Michael Donovan along with his wife, Linda Donovan.
“Education is the most powerful tool one can carry into any room or situation.”, says Yesenia Quichimbo, an Ecuadorian native and proud East Hampton High School graduate who has been instrumental in helping to launch this initiative that augments OLA’s existing scholarship fund.
“Latino youth face disproportionate challenges, particularly limited access to capital,” Quichimbo explains. “This fund directly targets that gap with community-driven solutions.”
