UNIDOS for La Causa

Our History
In 2017, the significance of the proposed Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Arts & Culture offered the opportunity and the motivation for Chicano/Latino community organizations to come together, combining efforts towards a greater good for our communities. Its significance resonated with each one of us, a historical moment in time.

UNIDOS began with the announcement in December 2017 from the Riverside Latino Network, the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GRHCC), and the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation of a collective $90,000 pledge to the capital campaign to fund the renovation of the former main library and future home of The Cheech, with each organization pledging $30,000 over three years.

But we knew we could and should do more, so we did.  Subsequently, we committed to raise a total of $250,000 over a three-year period by adding to this collaboration of Chicano/Latino organizations and individuals. UNIDOS held its first meeting in January 2018, bringing together Chicano Latino individuals and group representatives to discuss the proposed Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, an opportunity for the Chicano Latino community to come together and celebrate our community’s many contributions to Chicano culture and art, and to demonstrate a strong united presence.

Our first fundraising event was our inaugural gala, UNIDOS: Celebrando Chicano Art Gala held on September 6, 2018, at The Riverside Convention Center. The gala highlighted and celebrated the historical importance of Chicano art, the versatility of contemporary Chicano artists, and the impact on communities in education, economic development, culture, and more. UNIDOS raised $113,902 and all funds raised went towards The Cheech. In addition to the $90,000 committed by the original three organizations, additional pledges were made in the amount of $54,850, for a total of $258,752 in just ONE YEAR.

Other fundraising efforts since 2018 include:

  • A benefit concert in January 2020 at The Fox Theatre, featuring Flor de Toloache, a Latin Grammy winning, New York-based all-female ensemble.
  • A series of six virtual En Diálogo events, between October 2020 to May 2021, with some of our most respected and well-known Chicano Latino artists, coupled with an online auction.
  • UNIDOS Golf Tournament at the Victoria Club in July 2021, where we were honored to have Dolores Huerta and Cheech Marin join us.
  • Our second gala celebrating the opening of The Cheech on June 17, 2022, was held at the Riverside Convention Center.
  • UNIDOS Golf Tournament at the Victoria Club in July 2023, to support community-based programming at The Cheech.
  • “Generaciones de Música” scholarship fundraising mixer, held on August 10, 2024, at Zacatecas Café in Riverside.
To date through the above-mentioned events, UNIDOS has raised over $1,000,000 for The Cheech and other endeavors! We look forward to carrying on our fundraising for The Cheech while pursuing other projects to support additional causes in our region. We hope you will join us in la causa!

For more information on UNIDOS visit www.unidosfor.org  and connect with us on Instagram (@Unidosfor) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/unidosfor) 

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