40 Years of Puente
Join us in celebrating 40 years of transformation at PUENTE Learning Center’s Anniversary Gala, Bridging Generations — 40 Years of PUENTE. During this unforgettable evening we will present Rich Webster with the Riordan Community Impact Award in honor of his remarkable dedication and unwavering commitment to improving conditions for our students and families.
Guests will enjoy a program rooted in community and growth as students, families, and honorees share powerful stories of how PUENTE has opened pathways to education for thousands—across generations.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. at the historic Los Angeles River Center and Gardens with a vibrant cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by an elegant dinner and inspiring program.
Special community activations will offer a window into PUENTE’s journey— revealing what’s possible when we come together to uplift and empower. Just as a butterfly’s flight begins in stillness, your support helps spark transformation that ripples across lives and generations.
Don’t miss this evening filled with joy, hope, and purpose—as we raise essential funds to carry PUENTE’s mission into the next 40 years.
PUENTE Learning Center
Donate now!www.puente.org
(323) 780-5312
Vice President of Advancement: Matt Wells
Mission
We are PUENTE: People United to Enrich the Neighborhood Through Education. Building bridges to learning and opportunity in Boyle Heights and beyond.
Begin to Build a Relationship
We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s director of development and/or Executive Director.
My family and I are proud to support PUENTE Learning Center because we share PUENTE’s vision of a brighter future where high-quality education transforms lives. Regardless of your zip code, income, or ethnicity, everyone deserves an equal chance at success. PUENTE is a well-regarded nonprofit organization with a community-centered, results-driven approach. For almost 40 years, PUENTE Learning Center has built trust with its constituents, and I am grateful for their positive impact on Los Angeles.
Help Close the College Success Opportunity Gap
PUENTE Learning Center’s College and Career Program supports socioeconomically disadvantaged Latinx students, like Josue, to succeed in college. The program has a remarkable track record, with 98 percent of post-secondary students persisting towards their degree.
Each $3,000 donation covers program costs, including scholarships, to help an L.A.-area college student with essential needs like food, textbooks, and transportation so they can stay in college and graduate, says Matt Wells, PUENTE Learning Center’s vice president of advancement. The total amount of money needed is $500,000 to fund the program through 2025.
“While non-PUENTE scholarships might offset their tuition, PUENTE scholarships offset their basic needs, which are key for low-income students to persist through college,” Wells says.
Key Supporters
California Community Foundation
Carl and Roberta Deutsch
Foundation
Chris and Melody Malachowsky
Eli and Edythe L. Broad Foundation
Helen and Will Webster Foundation
Johnny Carson Foundation
Los Angeles Lakers Youth Fund
The Orinoco Foundation
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
The Riordan Foundation
Robert Tuttle and Maria
Hummer-Tuttle
Rose Hills Foundation
Snell & Wilmer
UnidosUS
U.S. Bank
USC – Good Neighbors Program