DFW Hispanic 100 marks 30 years with $1M in grants and new honors

DFW Hispanic 100 celebrated its 30th anniversary on Sept. 23 in Dallas with an awards gala that spotlighted more than $1 million in cumulative grantmaking across North Texas. The organization also honored Dr. Catalina Garcia, Dr. Elba Garcia and Prisma Garcia for leadership across medicine, public service and education.

Why it matters: - DFW Hispanic 100’s Latina Giving Circle has crossed a major funding milestone, distributing more than $1 million to North Texas nonprofits that support Latina women, girls and families. - The organization used its 30th anniversary to elevate a broader pipeline of Latina leadership, from founding members to current community leaders. - The gala underscored how local philanthropy and civic leadership are shaping resources and recognition for Hispanic women across North Texas.

What happened: - DFW Hispanic 100 held its 30th anniversary gala on Sept. 23 at the Arts District Mansion in Dallas. - About 350 Latina leaders, partners and allies attended. - The organization honored Dr. Catalina Garcia as the inaugural Mujer de la Década. - DFW Hispanic 100 also named Dr. Elba Garcia the 2026 Latina Living Legend and Prisma Garcia the 2026 Emerging Latina Leader Award recipient.

The details: - Since 2019, the Latina Giving Circle has awarded $1,022,200 through 217 grants to nonprofits serving Latina women, girls and families in North Texas. - In 2026, the committee reviewed a record 82 applications and awarded $136,200 through 22 grants. - Yareli Esteban and Kim Cummings served as co-chairs of the 2026 Giving Circle, with Diana Aguirre as grants chair and a committee of Hispanic 100 members. - The Mujer de la Década award is a new honor reserved for the organization’s 10-year anniversaries. - A special committee selected Dr. Catalina Garcia from among all past Latina Living Legend honorees. - Dr. Catalina Garcia was the 2013 Latina Living Legend. - She was one of the first Hispanic women to graduate from UT Southwestern Medical School. - Her career included work as an anesthesiologist with Baylor Scott & White and as principal of Dallas Anesthesiology Group. - She was elected to the Dallas College Board of Trustees in 2024. - Her board service has included Head Start of Dallas, KERA, the National Hispanic Council on Aging and DART. - Dr. Catalina Garcia said she accepted the recognition with gratitude and a continued commitment to opening doors for the next generation of Latina leaders. - DFW Hispanic 100 was founded in 1996 as Hispanic 50. - Two of the organization’s original founders, Delia Reyes, Bertha Outler and Patricia Asip, served as honorary chairs of the celebration. - The event brought together founders, Living Legends and emerging leaders from three generations of the organization’s history. - Sylvia Sotelo Kidd, president of DFW Hispanic 100, said the anniversary honored the founders’ vision and the leaders who carried it forward. - Dr. Elba Garcia became the first Latina elected to the Dallas County Commissioners Court in 2010. - Dr. Elba Garcia previously served on the Dallas City Council. - She was the first Latina to serve as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor Pro Tem of Dallas. - Dr. Elba Garcia has maintained a dental practice since 1998. - Prisma Garcia represents District 4 on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees and serves as board secretary. - Prisma Garcia is a Dallas ISD graduate. - She built her career in corporate and nonprofit philanthropy. - Prisma Garcia co-founded Community Does It - Cuenta Conmigo in southeast Dallas.

Between the lines: - The $1 million-plus grant total shows the Giving Circle has moved beyond symbolic philanthropy into a durable funding vehicle with measurable local reach. - Recognizing both established and emerging leaders signals an effort to connect legacy, influence and succession inside the Latina leadership network. - The mix of health care, education, philanthropy and public office reflected at the gala suggests DFW Hispanic 100 is positioning Latina leadership as a cross-sector civic force, not a single-issue effort.

What’s next: - DFW Hispanic 100 said it wants to turn the $1 million milestone into momentum and attract greater investment. - The organization plans to expand support for Latina women, girls and families across North Texas. - The Latina Giving Circle will continue as part of DFW Hispanic 100’s broader mentorship, civic engagement and philanthropy work, including its partnership with Texas Women’s Foundation.

The bottom line: - After 30 years, DFW Hispanic 100 is pairing celebration with proof of impact: more than $1 million granted, new leaders recognized and a larger platform for future giving.