Dear Friends,

Happy New Year from the Esperanza Education Fund! Thanks to your generous support, we’ve had an amazing year. We invite you to read our annual report reviewing what we accomplished in 2010 and previewing what we aim to achieve in 2011. As you read the report (available here), we hope you will consider making a year-end tax-deductible contribution by clicking here:

Highlights of 2010 include:

• Reviewed more than 250 scholarship applications, interviewed 30 finalists, and awarded $75,000 in scholarships to 11 outstanding students.
• Organized a Career Day for 2009 Scholars and matched 2010 Scholars with mentors in their fields of interest.
• Hosted a private dinner at the Peruvian Embassy for our top supporters.
• Received the Hugh A. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Prize from the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia.
• Raised $100,000 for the 2011 Esperanza Scholarship, including a $40,000 grant from the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs.
• Held a benefit concert and art exhibit at the Carnegie Institution with flamenco guitarist Grigory Goryachev and classical painter Teresa Oaxaca.

Best wishes for the new year,

Alice Wang
Chair, Board of Directors
The Esperanza Education Fund

Yesterday, flamenco guitarist Grigory “Grisha” Goryachev and classical oil prodigy Teresa Oaxaca stunned a sold-out audience of Esperanza’s supporters and guests at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Grigory began an almost all-flamenco program with Con Garbo y Salero – Farruco by Sabicas and closed the evening with an encore of the precious Recuerdos de la Alhambra, or Memories of the Alhambra, by late 19th century composer Francisco Tarrega.

After Grisha’s performance in the ballroom, we moved to the Carnegie’s marble rotunda, where WilmerHale LLP hosted a champagne reception and exhibit of the work of Teresa Oaxaca. Teresa lived up to her reputation as the youngest Old Master you’ll ever meet. At the exhibit, Teresa debuted several large, imposing works in the Tenebrist style, including “Father Time”–a rich portrait of the artist’s grandfather that recalled a Rembrandt self-portrait. (And if you were there, you know I am not exaggerating!) Teresa is 22.

We cannot be more thankful for Grigory and Teresa’s support. You can order Grisha’s latest CD, Homenaje a Sabicas, from Amazon.com. To see more of Teresa’s work, visit the Quincy Library in Arlington where her work is on exhibit until December 30 (details here). To inquire about purchasing her work or a portrait commission, visit Teresa’s website. We also would like to thank our hosts, patrons, and community sponsors, including WilmerHale LLP, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, APABA-DC, HBA-DC, SABA-DC, and Reliable Printing.

The event already received a wonderful write-up from New American Media. Photos are below, courtesy of EventosVIPpass.com.