It’s been so long since last we met…time for Reunión y Despedida!

The GCSA is proud and excited to host the second annual Reunión y Despedida in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 20! Reunión y Despedida is an event geared towards bringing many of Georgetown's diverse comunidad members together. For alumni, this is an opportunity to reunite with old friends. For undergraduates, this is one last hoorah before the start of the fall semester. For incoming members of the Class of 2015, this is a chance for you and your family to meet other members of your class and for your parents/guardians to become acquainted with a diverse and dynamic Georgetown community. Those attending – incoming Hoyas, current undergraduates, alums, friends and family – are, were, and will be the support that makes an endeavor like Georgetown possible.

So what can you expect at Reunión y Despedida? Delicious food is one draw. This event is casual and will be in the backyard of Georgetown alumnus Alex Chacon's home in Los Angeles. Alumni are providing great, home-cooked food (vegetarian and otherwise) and we will have plenty of beverages on hand. And although we lure you in with delicious food, our objective is to connect and reconnect you to the Georgetown comunidad.

If you’re an incoming Hoya or current undergraduate, please RSVP to georgetown.comunidad@gmail.com with your name and the name(s) of your guest(s).

Alums: Your support makes this event possible. RSVP by make a small donation to the GCSA. We suggest $25.00, but any donation is welcome and no alumnus/a will be turned away for not donating. To make a donation, use the PayPal "Donate" button at the upper right hand corner of our blog homepage. Once you make the donation, email georgetown.comunidad@gmail.com to confirm your RSVP.

Finally: We hope any parents of students and alumni can attend! This is a family friendly event and parents are encouraged to attend and meet other Hoya parents from the neighborhood!

A Word of Gratitude

I continue to be amazed (but not surprised) at the generosity of the many Georgetown alumni who have stepped forward to contribute to this initiative. Many have emailed us extending their good wishes and their support. Some have emailed offering us their professional skills. Many are content to show their support through a generous donation. To all those who are supporting this initiative, I say to you: ¡GRACIAS!

If you haven’t donated yet, do not worry. There is plenty of time to get your donation in. Just click on the “Donate” button on the top right hand corner of this page. Donating is fast, easy and very secure. We are hoping to have all donations in by October 19, so consider making a donation today.

I’d like to take a moment to highlight the fundraising efforts of some outstanding alumni who have been real leaders in this project. Vicente Garcia (COL ’05) is currently the executive director of a nonprofit, interfaith organization based in D.C. called 9/11 Unity Walk. Vicente has gone above and beyond and has really been working hard to encourage members of the Class of 2005 to donate. As the GCSA’s Local Chair, Vicente also took charge of disseminating the application materials to a diverse (and long) list of undergraduate organizations. Vicente reached out to student leaders who were eager to hear that alumni are thinking of them and supporting their aspirations.

Irma Perez (COL ’04) is a very busy second-year law student at U.C. Hastings but has made time to chair the GCSA’s Selection Committee. In the middle of interviews for summer associates positions, a full load of classes and a job on the side, Irma put together the scholarship application materials, recruited alumni donors to volunteer their time on the selection committee all-the-while rocking out to Jenni Rivera and Aventura. If you’re a member of the Class of 2004, and Irma hasn’t contacted you, just wait, because she will. Keep the credit card handy.

Last, but certainly not least, is Juan Venegas (SFS ’01). Juan is a busy man working for Booz Allen Hamilton and is a proud Hoya. Juan has found time in his busy schedule to help this initiative grow and to take charge of the association’s finances. Juan is the Finance Chair of this endeavor. He’s brought on board many alumni who are eager to be involved in any way they can.

I also want to highlight the efforts of two alumni who have gone above-and-beyond the call of duty and have really rallied alumni behind this initiative: Luis Torres (COL ’05) and Jason Resendez (COL ’08).

Thank you to this awesome team of Hoyas for doing the legwork to get this initiative organized and off the ground! Again, thank you to all of the Hoyas who have donated!

Octavio Gonzalez (COL'06)