Colleyville nonprofit Parents Step Ahead received a grant from the DFW Hispanic 100 Latina Giving Circle. The circle awarded $136,200 to 22 North Texas organizations this year.

The grants were announced at DFW Hispanic 100's 30th anniversary gala on Sept. 23 at the Arts District Mansion, where 350 Latina leaders and allies gathered, according to a press release published by the Fort Worth Report. The evening also marked a milestone: the Giving Circle, housed at Texas Women's Foundation (TXWF), has surpassed $1 million in cumulative grants.

Since launching in 2019, the circle has distributed $1,022,200 through 217 grants to nonprofits serving Latina women, girls and families across the region.

Parents Step Ahead, founded in 2006 by Lupita Colmenero, works with underserved families to boost parental engagement in education.

The Colleyville-based organization received funding for its Families Forward Initiative, a family engagement and wellness program. The specific dollar amount was not disclosed.

Yareli Esteban, co-chair of the Latina Giving Circle, said in the press release that the circle's strength comes from proximity. She described the members as women from the community investing in nonprofit leaders who understand local needs firsthand.

Esteban said reaching $1 million proves collective philanthropy can be both strategic and personal.

Esteban and Kim Cummings co-chaired the 2026 Giving Circle. Diana Aguirre served as grants chair.

Sylvia Sotelo Kidd, 2026 president of DFW Hispanic 100, said the organization is proud the Giving Circle reached the milestone during its 30th anniversary year.

The gala also honored Dr. Catalina Garcia as the first recipient of the Mujer de la Década Award, a new honor to be given only at 10-year anniversaries. Dr. Elba Garcia was named the 2026 Latina Living Legend, and Dallas Independent School District Trustee Prisma Garcia received the 2026 Emerging Latina Leader Award.

DFW Hispanic 100 was founded in 1996 as the Hispanic 50. Two of its three original founders, Delia Reyes and Bertha Outler, served as honorary chairs of the celebration. The third founder was Patricia Asip.

Other Tarrant County grant recipients included Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, which received funding for college and career readiness programming at North Side High School in Fort Worth. The full list of 22 grantees spans organizations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Garland, Denton and Farmers Branch.

Residents interested in joining or donating to the Latina Giving Circle can email [email protected].

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