Monterey County, California — The Siembra Latinos Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County invites nominations for the 2024 Alfred Diaz-Infante Award. The award was established in 2023, in partnership with Alfred’s family, to honor the late Alfred Diaz-Infante, a community leader and nonprofit executive who created partnerships to create opportunities for the Latino community.

“Siembra” means “to sow,” and Alfred sowed seeds of goodwill and progress along his path, leaving this community better than he found it. This annual award honors Alfred’s work and legacy by recognizing individuals who work collaboratively to make positive change for the Latino community.

“We are honored to present this award to someone who carries on Alfred’s spirit as a champion for the Latino community in Monterey County,” said Lorraine Yglesias, Siembra Latinos Fund Co-Chair.

Nominations are due Friday, June 7, 2024 by 5 p.m. and information is available at cfmco.org/AlfredDiazInfante. The award will be presented at the annual Siembra Latinos Fund celebration on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Tickets and sponsorship information will be available soon.

“Our family is proud to honor my brother’s legacy by partnering with Siembra Latinos Fund on this award. We hope this will inspire others to continue in his footsteps,” said Louie Diaz-Infante, Alfred’s brother, and member of the Siembra Latinos Fund Advisory Council.

The Siembra Latinos Fund presented the inaugural award in 2023 to Ernesto Vela, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for the Monterey County Office of Education. In his 27 years in public education, Dr. Vela has served as an elementary school teacher, principal, district office administrator and program director. His dedication to migrant education and his work as a board member and team leader for the Salinas Valley Dream Academy demonstrate his commitment to improving the lives of local Latinos.

Alfred Diaz Infante was president and CEO of CHISPA (Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning), Inc., a nonprofit developer and provider of affordable housing based in Salinas. Alfred’s leadership and advocacy was pivotal in renovating and creating affordable housing in our region. He was a champion for increasing educational access to youth from farm-working families and increased opportunities for families to have access to open space and services near their communities.

He gave back through volunteer board service for organizations including the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Big Sur Land Trust, Hartnell College Foundation, and Monterey Bay Economic Partnership. He also served as Monterey County planning commissioner and on the board of the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare District. He received Citizen of the Year Honors from the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Outstanding Leadership Award from Hartnell Foundation, where he created a scholarship to honor his parents and those of his wife, Elvira, who all valued education as a path to success.

Award criteria include exhibiting character and values that reflect Alfred’s, including humility, generosity, thoughtfulness, kindness, inclusivity, strength and tireless efforts to create an equitable community. The individual must also be involved in one or more of these areas: equitable opportunities, civic engagement, collaboration, housing, education, environmental justice, farmworker community and mentoring and/or volunteering.

The Siembra Latinos Fund has granted more than $100,000 since 2017 to organizations providing community-based programs aimed at improving the quality of life of local Latinos. It is a fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County. For more information, visit www.cfmco.org/SLF.                                                 

About the Siembra Latinos Fund

The Siembra Latinos Fund (SLF) was created in 2017 to improve the quality of life for Latino residents of Monterey County. It was created by a group of local Latino leaders to inspire giving by and for Latinos and build on a culture of philanthropy. “Siembra” means “to sow” and the fund seeks to grow opportunity for the Latino Community in Monterey County.

About the Community Foundation for Monterey County

The mission of the CFMC is “to inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County.” Thanks to generous individuals, families and businesses who have created charitable funds, the CFMC has granted more than $340 million to nonprofits working towards healthy, safe, vibrant communities since 1984. For more information, call 831.375.9712 or visit cfmco.org.