The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute at The Boys to Leaders Foundation 10th Anniversary Gala

Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute Students with Program Coordinator Cristina Cosme

On July 19, 2023, the members and scholars of the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute of Seton Hall University attended the Boys to Leaders Foundation’s Annual Gala. The Boys to Leaders Foundation supports and guides talented young men into becoming community leaders through its networking opportunities, scholarships, and professional development workshops. The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute is proud to support and partner with the Boys to Leaders Foundation for its efforts in providing the guidance and means to success for many young talented men, some of whom belong to the Latino community themselves.

Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute students and program coordinator, Cristina Cosme, with Boys to Leaders Founder, Sara Pena

This year, the foundation held its annual gala in celebration of serving its community for ten years and awarded their annual scholarships.  The Foundation annually awards scholarships through their Leaders and Achievers Program to those young men who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their communities and/or universities.

In addition to their mentorship opportunities, they host their signature annual leadership conference that provides workshops of educational and social and emotional support. “The greatest gift we can do as leaders is to leave our communities better than we found it. We do this by collaborating with likeminded leaders, universities, and other community-based organizations to ensure our young men of color have success in whatever field they choose," said Sara Pena, founder of Boys to Leaders. “We are grateful for the JAULI’s partnership to ensure our students receive a quality education and financial support they need to earn a degree at Seton Hall University”.

At this year’s gala, the foundation also honored four exemplary leaders: the Honorable Judge Michael A. Ship, Michael Plata, Esq., Commissioner Hector Baralt, Lazaro Valdes, PNC Bank. These men have made an impact in young men’s lives with the organization and in their careers. 

What makes the Boys to Leaders Foundation remarkable is the family-like atmosphere that the leaders and collaborators within the foundation have established. This is important because the young men who are members of Boys to Leaders know that they will always find support and mentorship within the foundation to help them create their own success stories.

The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute is honored to be partnered with the Boys to Leaders Foundation because it provides young men, especially Latinos, not only with the opportunity to connect with successful professionals and community leaders that come from the same cultural background as them, as well as providing funds to continue their own career paths. The Boys to Leaders Foundation, like the Latino Institute, is a community of collaboration and empowerment, that aims to create a new generation of impactful trailblazers who are willing to give back to the community.

Categories: Campus Life