Forest City Sponsors Three Hispanic Heritage College Scholarships

CLEVELAND, October, 5, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Forest City Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FCEA and FCEB) continued the company's partnership with Esperanza, Inc., Ohio’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of Hispanic educational achievement, with the recent sponsorship of three $1,000 college scholarships awarded to Greater Cleveland residents.

Forest City has supported Esperanza through the company’s corporate philanthropy initiative since 2011.

“Esperanza’s outreach stretches beyond Cleveland’s Hispanic community,” said Sara Gonzalez, Forest City’s communications executive administrative assistant and co-chair of Unidos, the company’s Hispanic associate resource group. “Forest City’s core values of community involvement and diversity and inclusion align with the organization’s efforts to lift communities to their highest potential by investing in the future.”

This year’s Forest City scholarship recipients – Isaac Anaya, an Ohio State University sophomore studying anthropological science; Celina Flores, an Ohio University senior majoring in communications and public advocacy; and Ariana Latimer, a Cuyahoga Community College sophomore studying business administration – were recognized at Esperanza’s Fiesta of Hope luncheon in June.

Esperanza scholarship recipients are selected based on academic achievement, demonstrated financial need, volunteer and extracurricular involvement and an in-person interview.

Forest City’s corporate philanthropy program focuses on organizations and initiatives that generate significant, enduring and positive impacts in the company’s headquarters city of Cleveland and core markets of New York, Boston, Washington, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas. Areas of emphasis include economic development, workforce preparedness, educational attainment and diversity and inclusion.

Forest City’s cumulative support of Esperanza has resulted in the awarding of 10 scholarships and has benefitted the Cleveland-based nonprofit’s academic, mentoring, youth leadership and family engagement programs.

“Our organization relies on the support of dedicated corporate and community members,” said Victor Ruiz, Esperanza’s executive director. “Forest City's engagement with Esperanza is a great model of responsible corporate citizenship.”  

Forest City supports Esperanza in its vision of serving as a model of academic and community excellence in more ways than through charitable giving. Unidos organized a school supply drive in support of the organization’s back-to-school supplies giveaway, which resulted in the donation of more than 1,350 items. Company associates have also participated in Esperanza’s mentorship program and served on the organization’s scholarship committee.

“Forest City's support is greatly valued,” said Ruiz. “Countless volunteer and mentoring hours have been donated by company associates.”