Following in his father’s footsteps Attorney Fernando Chavez, the eldest son of the iconic Latino American civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, is helping the Latino community in his own way through the use of the internet and your charitable contribution.
On CharityBuzz.com, Chavez is currently hosting an online auction in-which the proceeds will then go towards benefitting the youths of the After-School All-Stars program. The program is based in a Los Angeles, and currently Chavez himself sits on the Board of Directors to help deserving youth.
As a way to continue the work of his father, and continue his legacy, Chavez became a lawyer. By becoming a lawyer, Chavez continues to live by the lessons Cesar Chavez taught him. One such lesson is to be a voice for those who do not have a voice themselves.
“I am very excited to be hosting an online auction to help the children in After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles programs,” says Fernando. “The organization offers wonderful opportunities to young people, giving them experiences to help build a successful future.”
The After-School All-Stars was founded back in 2002 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The program is a leading after-school program provider that offers programs to students that are both educational and enlightening ranging from academic support to health services and education. The program also offers youth leadership and community service learning.
Known for its innovative and cutting-edge approach to educating its students, the program provides a safe haven for students from grades K-12. These students also contribute to the reducing rates in drug use and crime violence; the students also help increase safety within their school during the after-school hours.
The program serves 17,000 students annually across 43 schools located in the deserving areas throughout LA County. One of the program’s top support comes from its program ambassador Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Currently, there are an estimated 85% of Latino students who are being served by the organization.
Seeing the importance of the program, Chavez is offering potential bidders to bid on having a lunch with him on Cesar Chavez Blvd which is a famed boulevard in Los Angeles. Also, the auction winner will get to enjoy spending time with Chavez by partaking in a conversation with him about his father’s life, legacy, and the contribution he made to the Latino community and society itself.
“Those who meet me say that it is like a legacy coming alive,” says Mr. Chavez. “That’s truly humbling. I know to them, meeting me is like touching the legacy my father created. That is something I cling to.”
After the lunch the bidder can also expect to take a picture with Fernando Chavez in front of his favorite Los Angeles mural dedicated to his father.
And the timing of the auction couldn’t be any better due to the upcoming release of the “Cesar Chavez” movie directed by Diego Luna.
The film will star Michael Pena as Cesar Chavez himself and America Ferrera as Helen Fabela Chavez, wife of Chavez and the mother of Fernado Chavez. The film will be highlighting the work and legacy of Cesar Chavez which Chavez hopes will draw attention to his own philanthropic dedication to Latino people.
“Everyone deserves a chance to succeed,” says Fernando. “I hope the money raised through this online auction for After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles children will enable me to further instill these values for them.”
The auction is still going on and the film is slated to be released across the nation on March 28, 2014.
