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VIDA’s 30th Anniversary Gala was a true celebration of the organization’s three decades of service. Held in the Rio Grande Valley, the milestone event celebrated the transformation of more than 7,000 lives through workforce training and higher education access. The evening was one of forward-looking optimism in an uncertain time, and a wonderful moment of reflection for an organization that has grown from a local initiative into a regional force for opportunity.
A Night of Celebration and Legacy
Emcee Tom Castañeda, the system director of marketing and public relations for South Texas Health System, opened the evening by reminding guests that education is not merely a vehicle for financial mobility, it’s a foundation for lasting community change. Castañeda saluted VIDA’s thirty-year journey, from its origins as a grassroots partnership between faith and civic leaders to its current role as a beacon for families seeking a better future through career education.
Rosalie Tristin offered an invocation framed in gratitude, giving thanks to founding leaders such as Carmen and Father Forshage, Consuelo Romero, and Sister Maria Sanchez, whose early vision united cities and towns across the Valley around a common mission. Her reflection captured VIDA’s ethos perfectly: faith-fueled leadership that transforms adversity into action.
Honoring a Vision of Growth
VIDA CEO Felida Villarreal took the stage to welcome guests and frame the night’s larger message. Referring to the thirtieth milestone as the “Pearl Anniversary,” she likened VIDA’s enduring impact to the creation of a pearl, layered over time through perseverance and collaboration.
Villarreal highlighted VIDA’s economic footprint. “Over the last thirty years, our programs have supported an average of 850 jobs annually, generated $1 billion in wages, $2 billion in regional GDP, and $216 million in state and local taxes,” she explained. More strikingly, every dollar invested in VIDA yields a $28 return in labor income and $46 in total economic output, a remarkable testament to education as an economic engine.
Villarreal also paused to honor late colleagues such as Sabrina Walker, whose legacy of service continues to guide the organization.
Sponsors, including Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, the City of Pharr, and South Texas College, were also thanked for their steadfast support.
Video by Jeremy Ingelsi/RGV Photo + Video
A Fireside Conversation with Fernando De León
The guest speaker for the evening’s event was Fernando De León, the Brownsville-born entrepreneur whose successes include the founding of Leon Capital Group, along with a $10 billion business empire. De León focused on the possibilities that education creates, and on growing up along the US-Mexican border.
“What that taught me,” he says, “was how to navigate two worlds, and how systems work. That understanding eventually helped me build companies that span industries and continents.”
When asked about mentorship, De León credited both family and community figures who encouraged him to dream big despite limited means. He revealed that success came not from connections or wealth, but from perseverance.
“I didn’t leave Goldman Sachs by choice; I got fired,” De León says. “But sometimes not having options forces you to create them. Adversity makes you resourceful.”
Unlike many private equity leaders, De León prefers to build companies from scratch rather than buy them. “That way, I can place extraordinary people in positions of potential,” he says. His investment philosophy, grounded in creating societal value, focuses on healthcare, housing, and mental health: sectors that directly improve quality of life.
The Best Investment: You
Asked what advice he’d offer to first-generation college-goers, De León was clear.
“The best investment you’ll ever make is in yourself. It doesn’t matter what you start with, what matters is that you believe you can do it. That belief is everything.”
De León recalled his time sleeping on relatives’ floors while attending school and eventually representing South Texas in the National Spelling Bee. “It doesn’t matter where you start,” he says. “You just keep going.”
Looking ahead, De León underscored the transformative force of artificial intelligence. From real estate to nonprofit operations, he says, “AI will reshape every industry, and those who learn to harness it will lead.” Adaptation to change, the executive urged, is not optional. Those who adapt sooner will be better poised for the future.
2025 Graduate of the Year
Following De León’s conversation, the spotlight turned to VIDA’s 2025 Graduate of the Year, Maria Luisa Quintana, whose video testimony embodied VIDA’s mission. A single mother who once faced homelessness, she completed her nursing degree through VIDA’s support network and now works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System.
Fighting back tears as she accepted her award, Quintana, shared her gratitude: “They were behind my shoulder every step of the way. I’m proof that with support and hard work, anything is possible.”
Quintana,’s next goal is the most basic of the American Dream, home ownership. She was wished well by all in attendance.
Still Shining Bright
The evening closed with a live auction led by Joe Brown, where guests bid on experiences ranging from wellness packages to private dinners, all to benefit VIDA’s students. Between laughter, friendly competition, and generous giving, the room radiated the same spirit that has propelled VIDA forward since its inception, community-driven progress rooted in dignity, faith, and education.
In her closing remarks, Villarreal’s words encapsulated the night’s spirit: “Three decades ago, we set out to transform families through education. Tonight proves that vision still shines, and that the best is yet to come.”
