11 Years Powered by Partnerships, ELI Anniversary Luncheon on Nov. 12, 2025

On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, more than 200 community members, partners, and leaders came together to celebrate 11 years of Enterprising Latinas and our collective work expanding pathways to economic opportunity for women and families across Wimauma and the Tampa Bay region.

This year’s Anniversary Luncheon was more than a celebration, it was a moment of genuine connection. A space to honor the partners who have walked alongside us, believed in our mission, and helped transform vision into lasting community impact.

Powered by Partnerships: Honoring Our Partners

At the heart of Enterprising Latinas’ impact are strong, trust-based partnerships. This year, we proudly recognized 11 organizations with the Power Partner Award, honoring their commitment to women’s economic mobility and community-led development:

• Allegany Franciscan Ministries

• Adrian Dominican Sisters

• Bank of America

• BMO

• Community Foundation Tampa Bay

• Florida Blue

• Hillsborough County

• JPMorgan Chase

• Raza Development Fund

• United Way Suncoast

• Wells Fargo

These partnerships represent more than funding, they represent shared responsibility, long-term vision, and a belief that investing in women strengthens entire communities.

Community Leadership in the Room

We were honored to welcome community and civic leaders including Fentrice Driskell, Jane Castor, Nancy Millan, Guido Maniscalco, and Geri Lopez.Their presence underscored a shared commitment to building an inclusive regional economy rooted in opportunity and collaboration.

A Keynote That Captured the Spirit of the Work We Do

Our keynote speaker, Annie Donovan, CEO of Raza Development Fund, delivered a powerful message that reflected the essence of Enterprising Latinas’ journey and impact:

“When we met Liz Gutierrez, she was ready to buy a building, but she didn’t have the money for that. In banking terms, her balance sheet was thin. When she sat down with someone from RDF, they listened to her story.They saw that she had a track record, a good idea, a solid plan, and a lot of passion.

She was going to create an Opportunity Center.

We made a $520,000 loan for Liz to buy that building, a former restaurant in Wimauma. Now Enterprising Latinas was on the map. It became a real estate owner, a deeper stakeholder in the community, and it created a space where women could feel at home, believe in their dreams, and gain the tools to achieve them. Because we can’t just have dreams, we have to have tools, too.”

Her remarks powerfully illustrated how listening, trust, and access to capital can turn vision into tangible community assets.

Launching Somos Wimauma: Investing in People. Investing in Place.

The luncheon also marked the official launch of our capital campaign, Somos Wimauma: Investing in People. Investing in Place. This campaign represents a long-term investment in community-centered infrastructure, expanded services for our Wimauma Opportunity Center, and sustainable economic opportunity, ensuring that Wimauma continues to be a place where women and families can grow, lead, and thrive.

Learn more about  Somos Wimauma: Investing in People. Investing in Place AQUÍ.

Looking Ahead, Together

Our 11th Anniversary Luncheon reminded us that progress is never achieved alone. It is built elbow-to-elbow with partners who believe in the mission, invest with intention, and walk alongside the community for the long haul.

To everyone who joined us, supported us, and continues to believe in this work: thank you.

Together, we are not only celebrating 11 years of impact, we are building the foundation for the years to come.

To see the full photo gallery and read more about this event visit: https://www.enterprisinglatinas.org/11years