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Valle del Sol honors Elisa de la Vara as a 2017 Mom of the Year honoree

Posted at 2:00 PM, May 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-10 14:00:33-04

Elisa de la Vara is Chief Community Officer and a member of the executive management team at the Arizona Community Foundation. Elisa oversees the Foundation's engagements and relationships with Arizona's diverse communities. Her leadership and oversight responsibilities include the grants management division, all major community initiatives including the Community Impact Loan Fund (impact investing), affordable housing fund, immigration and border philanthropy, and Philanthropy for All initiatives. Elisa also provides oversight of the Foundation's statewide Affiliate system, including nine professional staff members who live and work in ACF's offices in Cochise, Flagstaff, Sedona, Yavapai County and Yuma. 

When Elisa joined ACF as Senior Director of Philanthropic Services - Community Initiatives in 2015, she brought four decades of experience in community development and in the nonprofit, government and commercial sectors.  Most recently and prior to joining ACF Elisa managed the daily operations of Congressman Pastor's District Office for seven years until the Congressman's retirement.

Elisa's experience in the private sector includes executive positions in both real estate and property development companies and as the AZ director for Fannie Mae Partnership and Business Center.  She has held significant civic leadership roles throughout Arizona, including serving as Special Assistant to former Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt.  She rose through the ranks at the nonprofit Chicanos Por La Causa from 1975 to 1983, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President. Elisa has served on many local and national boards and commissions and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's Distinguished Leadership Award and the Arizona Governor's Citation for Outstanding Service to the State of Arizona.  The CPLC Head Start program in Somerton bears her name for her many years of service and her work in developing CPLC's footprint in Yuma.  In 2007, she was inducted into Valle de Sol's Profiles of Success Hall of Fame.

Mom of the Year Breakfast
Friday, May 12, 2017
Phoenix Convention Center - North Ballroom
Registration 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast & Program 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
To purchase tickets visit, valledelsol.com/mom