Honoring 25 Years of Community Service

WASHINGTON - March 18, 2019 - PRLog -- It was a great honor for LEAP Foundation DC to attend the Latino Student Fund Gala in celebration of the organization's 25^thanniversary. The March 14^thevent, presented by the LSF Board of Directors and Maria Fernanda Borja, president and CEO, was held at the renown Washington National Cathedral.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, who offered a few words at the event, has shown an incredible amount of support for both LEAP Foundation DC and the Latino Student Fund. Her dedication to the residents across all eight wards of the District have had a direct impact on the city's middle-class citizens, bringing more than an anticipated 30,000 new jobs to the area, and her commitment to affordable housing has helped sustain a growing population and put an end to homelessness.

Dr. Clayton Lawrence, President and CEO of LEAP Foundation DC, was pleased to not only share a full table with his own nonprofit's supporters, but to celebrate the Latino Student Fund with the District's leaders, such as Mayor Bowser.

Dr. Lawrence said the fellow 2013 Leadership Greater Washington graduate serves as an unwavering advocate for the two groups that are on a mission to address the unmet needs of minorities and disadvantaged individuals and lead them on the path to a successful future.

"We have collaborated with the Latino Student Fund on several occasions, most notably for our annual toy drive, which provides families with a full Christmas at what could be a difficult time of year for some," Dr. Lawrence said. "We will continue to partner with the organization in an effort to maximum the reach and impact of our respective missions and we look forward to working on many significant projects to come. I'm sure I speak for both organizations when I say that none of this would be possible without supporters like Mayor Bowser, who care about prosperity, safety and health."

The Latino Student Fund, founded in 1994, has served more than 4,000 youth across its programs, including English classes, school workshops and computer training. It aims to "provide opportunities for a strong academic foundation to underserved preschool- through 12^th-grade students of Hispanic descent," while making educational programs attainable in the community.

Since LEAP's inception in 2009, the nonprofit has set out to provide similar educational and training opportunities to meet the aspirations of underserved citizens of the District of Columbia, from its educational support and scholarships, to its physical activity component and professional development. It is clear that when the two organizations come together, incredible things happen.

"We are so pleased to celebrate with the Latino Student Fund and we congratulate them on 25 years of serving the community," Dr. Lawrence said. "Their impact not only has affected the lives of students and families, but the overall health and wellness of the community."

A private celebratory reception recently was held at the Embassy of El Salvador, hosted by Dr. Claudia Ivette Canjura de Centeno, Ambassador of El Salvador to the United States, in recognition of Borja and the countless success stories of LSF beneficiaries. Dr. Lawrence considered it a privilege to be in attendance at an event that honored the commitment to introducing opportunities for those who otherwise may fall through the cracks.

"Dr. Canjura de Centeno has been a tremendous support in many ways and we look forward to her continued leadership, as well," he said.

ABOUT LEAP LLC

Driven by a mentality of servant leadership, Lawrence Executive Alliance of Professionals (LEAP), LLC, has been providing superior quality healthcare for active duty, veteran and civilian patients since 2007. Dr. Clayton Lawrence, a decorated and respected veteran of the United States Army, saw the need for a company that would operate with a new philosophy to bring forth excellence in the healthcare industry. Staffing medical facilities across the country with physicians, health educators, medical examiners and more, LEAP has been recognized with several awards of excellence and is certified by the Small Business Administration. Winning the Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader Award for 2014 was just the beginning of much-deserved recognition for positive changes in the District of Columbia and across the nation. Dr. Lawrence and LEAP, LLC, were selected as the 2015 Washington, D.C., Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Person of the Year. In 2016, Dr. Lawrence was honored when he was entered into The Congressional Record for his work in business and civic leadership throughout the greater Washington, D.C., region and abroad. Later that year, he received a White House Letter of Commendation from President Barack Obama for his work with LEAP, LLC.  LEAP, LLC's nonprofit partner organization, LEAP Foundation DC, has been building bridges between hope and achievement in the District of Columbia and the surrounding communities since 2009. The group works to address the unmet social and health needs of the area's people and, among other accolades, was recognized in 2014 with the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Award. For more information, visit https://www.leap4staffing.com or https://www.leapfoundationdc.org.