Community Leader Luz Corcuera Chairs UnidosNow’s 15th Anniversary, “Nuestros Quince,” on November 15
The organization concludes Hispanic Heritage Month with two exciting announcements—Corcuera as Honorary Chair and actor and director Will Luera as emcee.
UnidosNow’s “Nuestros Quince: 15 Years of Impact” is a community celebration marking fifteen years of empowering first-generation, low-income Latino students and their families across the region. As a decisive leader in the organization’s success, former Executive Director Luz Corcuera has been invited as the honorary chair of the event.
“It is an honor to hold this role, and I am thrilled to celebrate ‘Nuestros Quince,’” Corcuera said. “I look forward to reconnecting with our brilliant Scholars and families and our many partners and supporters who believe in our mission to empower Latinos to achieve their American dream.”
Presented by the Manatee Community Foundation, the event will take place at 5:00 PM on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa (600 US-41, Palmetto, FL 34221).
After dedicating much of her professional life to maternal-child health and community health, Luz Corcuera joined UnidosNow in 2016, inspired by a mission that resonated with her own story and that of her children. She expressed her gratitude to Kelly Kirschner, CJ Czaia, and Luis Baron for their vision in founding an organization dedicated to elevating the lives of Latinos. When she came on board, her predecessors, Frankie Soriano and the late Hector Tejeda, had narrowed the organization’s focus on education, leaving behind the strong Future Leaders Academy program, which has served as the foundation for the intergenerational model that defines the organization. This model allows children, youth, and parents to create opportunities to live with dignity and prepare the future leaders of our nation.
At “Nuestros Quince,” guests will have the chance to meet these future leaders and their families in person. The celebration will feature a vibrant program walking us through the organization’s history, its significance in the region, and the unequivocal role of its community champions. Actor, director, and improv extraordinaire Will Luera will be the master of ceremonies of this special evening. Luera, a long-term supporter of UnidosNow’s students and their passion for the arts, will contribute his distinctive emcee skills to this anniversary celebration.
“Having Will Luera as our emcee and Luz Corcuera as our event honorary chair fills me with joy,” said Evelyn Almodóvar, Executive Director of UnidosNow. “I have always admired Luz, and when the opportunity arose to follow in her footsteps and carry forward the mission, I embraced it without hesitation. To now celebrate this milestone of our organization alongside her is truly an honor and a profound privilege.”
The evening will also include fundraising auctions to strengthen the organization’s mission of education, integration, and civic engagement. Performances by local band Sonora Dinamita Florida will showcase the region’s rich cultural diversity and provide vibrant entertainment to close the celebration on a high note.
Guests are invited to join in an unforgettable evening of music, culture, gratitude, and community.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at http://www.unidosnow.org/nuestros-quince-2025.
About UnidosNow
Founded in 2010, with a mission to elevate the quality of life of the growing Hispanic/Latinx community through education, integration, and civic engagement, UnidosNow has established itself as a leader in the field of postsecondary education attainment. UnidosNow empowers leaders of tomorrow with its intergenerational programs, including the Parent Leadership program, which offers parents the skills to navigate the education system and advocate for their children, and the Future Leaders program, which provides college preparation for students interested in attending college or a high-quality certification or technical career. Visit UnidosNow.org for more information.
About Manatee Community Foundation
Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) is a charitable organization founded in 1998. MCF partners with our citizens to strengthen and enhance our community through philanthropy, education, and service – now and forever. MCF is the bridge between generous donors, business leaders, our government, and nonprofit partners, who work together so that everyone can thrive because we believe that together, we can do greater things. MCF has invested over $67 million in the areas of health and human services, education, arts and culture, the environment, and animal welfare, and iscommitted to its diversity, equity, inclusion, and access work. As the only community foundation in Manatee County, MCF is your partner in philanthropy, a trusted steward of charitable legacies and the guide for current giving through donor-advised funds and beyond. For more information about Manatee Community Foundation and how you can support its mission, visit http://www.manateecf.org.
