AVANCE to Celebrate 50 Years of Service and Success With San Antonio Gala

AVANCE, a national leader in early childhood and parenting education within Latino communities, will hold its 50th Anniversary Grand Finale Gala in San Antonio on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk. The event marks the culmination of a yearlong celebration of AVANCE’s rich history, remarkable accomplishments, and the resilient families and communities that have shaped its journey.

AVANCE was founded in San Antonio during the Mexican American civil rights movement on September 14, 1973, by Dr. Gloria G. Rodriguez, a local bilingual elementary teacher who sought to eliminate educational disparities for Latino students. Dr. Rodriguez created AVANCE’s core Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP) based on the belief that parents are their children’s first and most important teachers and that the home is the first classroom. What began with a handful of families at the Mirasol Housing Project on San Antonio’s West Side grew into a national movement that has reached more than 400,000 children, caregivers, and families. 

For its golden anniversary, AVANCE embarked on a yearlong celebration of how far the organization has come and where it is going. Today, AVANCE serves more than 17,000 children and caregivers annually across Texas, California, and New Mexico – a reach that continues to grow each year. 

“We’re extremely proud of our legacy and our momentum,” said Dr. Teresa Granillo, CEO of AVANCE. “For 50 years, AVANCE has been a trusted resource for communities, meeting children, caregivers, and families where they are and walking alongside them on their journeys to fulfill their dreams. Because we stay true to our roots while we continue to evolve, AVANCE is really uniquely positioned to meet the needs of our families and communities well into the future.”

Following events in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, and locations across Texas, the celebration returns to San Antonio with the Grand Finale Gala on AVANCE’s birthday, September 14, 2024. 

In addition to dinner, live music, and entertainment, the event will feature an exclusive fireside chat with distinguished education leaders, including Secretary Julián Castro, Chief Executive Officer of the Latino Community Foundation, former San Antonio Mayor, and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Dr. Valora Washington, Chief Executive Officer and President of The CAYL Institute. A special awards presentation will honor AVANCE Founder Dr. Gloria G. Rodriguez and the Zale Foundation, which provided the seed funding for AVANCE in 1973. Throughout the event, the inspiring and heartwarming testimonials of families served by AVANCE over the past 50 years will highlight AVANCE’s profound and personal impact. 

Explore AVANCE’s 50th Anniversary at https://www.avance.org/50th/, and visit https://www.avance.org/50th/sa-gala/ to learn more about the Grand Finale Gala and purchase tickets.