Marcelo Defreitas, long time board member of La Luz Center and producer of five record-breaking gala fundraisers, is the new chairman of the La Luz Board of Directors.
“It is an honor to be chosen as Chairman at this particular time in the organization’s history,” Defreitas said. “Thirty years ago La Luz started on Ligia Booker’s ‘dream and a prayer ‘– a small group helping immigrants find their way in Sonoma Valley.”
Now, he says, La Luz is thriving organization, respected and well known in Sonoma Valley, Santa Rosa, and even San Francisco where they have drawn support from agencies and foundations, he said.
This year is going to be very special for La Luz, Defreitas said, as a new, larger Community Services Building is under construction on Greger Street in the Springs. “Just as new facilities will put a new face on La Luz, our clients are moving up, gaining skills, learning English and getting involved in their children’s school life.”
Defrietas said he welcomes the opportunity to work closer with Juan Hernandez, a charismatic and experienced Latino leader in his third year as Executive Director, who leads a caring and professional staff. “We are proud of the work we are doing together, “ says Defreitas. “ We are proud to have earned the support of Sonoma, and I am proud to be in a position to continue this growth in the new year.
Defrietas, who grew up on a cattle ranch in the Southern part of Brazil, finished his studies at the University of San Francisco and got a bachelors in fine art from The Academy of Art, where he would later teach. In 1988, he joined Primo Angeli Inc., the noted packaging design company, until 1999 having been promoted to art director. There, he worked for several prominent clients including Nestle, Intel, Safeway, Sutter Home, as well as European and Latin American clients. He moved to Sonoma in 1999.
Defreitas succeeds as chair Anna Pier, who remains on the board.
Be First to Comment