HispanicVista Columnists
It Begins With a Dream
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By
Sal Osio, JD - From the Publisher's Corner
- November 4, 2006
- It Begins With a Dream
- By Sal Osio, JD
- HispanicVista, our publication, congratulates Jesus Chavarria and his staff at Hispanic Business Magazine, for such laudable and noble goals and deeds. And joins in the selection of Don Dionicio Morales, a living legend, as the deserving recipient of the lifetime achievement award: "It begins with a dream."
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- Sal Osio, JD is the publisher of HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com). Contact at: SPosio@aol.com
Last Thursday, November 8, at the venerable Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, Hispanic Business Magazine hosted its annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The theme - 'It begins with a dream' - was most appropriate. The honored recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award was Dionicio Morales, the octogenarian founder of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation ("MAOF").
Don Dionicio, as he is popularly addressed by his friends and colleagues, was accompanied by his partner and inspirational beacon, his wife, Maria, and family members, including some of his grandchildren. Over 500 participants rendered a standing ovation in his honor in gratitude for his life long contribution to the well being of Mexican Americans and to the goodwill between the two cultures of Mexico and the United States. Gloria Molina, the popular Latina, Los Angeles County Supervisor, who has distinguished herself for her crusade in caring for the less privileged among our residents, introduced Don Dionicio with a loving tenderness and respect evidencing the heartfelt affection and gratitude that she holds for this luminary.
The governor of the state of Michoacan in Mexico, Lazaro Cardenas Batel, whose grandfather, his namesake, was president of Mexico, unable to attend the tribute to Don Dionicio, instead sent his congratulatory letter recognizing him as the illustrious immigrant whose roots are richly imbedded in the Tarascan native culture of Michoacan. Not only is Don Dionicio a favorite son of Michoacan and honorary citizen of Morelia, its capital city, he is the pride of the immigration community from that state which comprised 1/4th of the California Mexican American population. Governor Lazaro Cardenas paid a tribute to Don Dionicio with the sincerity and humility reminiscent of the governor's grandfather, next to Benito Juarez, venerated as the most loved and admired president in the country's history.
Hispanic Business Magazine is the creation of its visionary Editor and Publisher, Jesus Chavarria. A Hispanic American statesman in the national scene, Mr. Chavarria has accomplished his mission in making his publication the imminent business resource and authority on Hispanic business. His goals, however, are nobler. His vision is to empower economically Hispanic Americans to reach the same levels of achievement as their fellow American entrepreneurs. To this end he has created a national business platform for networking and the exchange of ideas, for the recognition of emerging talent and the reward of accomplished leaders. The event of last Thursday, attended by the preeminent Hispanic business leaders in the nation, is living proof of Mr. Chavarria's path in his quest.