Círculo de la Hispanidad 2018 Gala Journal

Growing Stronger Toge t her

Growing Stronger Toge t her

William and Vicky Díaz

Ada Luz Vázquez-Coonerty

Silvana Díaz

Court Stenographer, Personal Trainer C0-President of the Children’s Medical Fund Garden City Chapter

Founders of Noticia

Founders William and Vicky Díaz established Noticia in 1991 from a 1-bedroom apartment in Hempstead, with the sole mission to inform and educate the Hispanic community of Long Island through a reliable and professional medium. The Díaz family also founded Fundación Hispanoamericana, a scholarship foundation in 2005 for Hispanic students of Long Island; inspired by their two daughters’ experiences as immigrant students. In 2009, Silvana and her sister Cinthia became the new proprietors of this weekly publication. They focused on modernizing the business and expanding its reach through noticiali.com and social media platforms. Continuing with the pattern and mission of expanding and improving their publications is how the Díaz family decided to join Schneps Communications in 2018. Schneps Communications is a 30-year-old local media company, publisher of more than 20 community publications including the Queens Courier, Long Island Press and El Correo – their 15-year-old Spanish language newspaper servicing the city boroughs. Silvia Díaz is now serving as publisher of the Hispanic Media group under this new merger with Schneps Communications. Their combined reach of print, digital platforms and events division is over 500,000. This new venture has combined New York’s largest Hispanic demographic areas under one umbrella, a dream come true for the Díaz family.

Ada Luz is the youngest of three girls raised by her single mom. Both of her parents came to New York from Puerto Rico not knowing a word of English. She was raised in a public housing project, which was and remains to be called “The Pink Houses” in Brooklyn East New York. That was a challenge, to say the least. But being surrounded by poverty and oppression didn’t stop Ada Luz from realizing her dream of getting out. She always felt that public assistance was only a stepping stone – not her final destination. She pursued her education and became the first in her family to graduate from High School. She then graduated from Court Reporting School, all while working full time to pay tuition. Despite her busy schedule, Ada Luz always found time to volunteer for an organization called Jornada de Vida Cristiana at her local church, Santa Fortunata. She helped motivate young adults to stay focused and continue with their education. She also coordinated retreats for the kids and tackled the difficult situations they were confronted with daily. When Ada Luz wasn’t working, studying and counseling, she found herself at the Senior Center feeding, playing board games with, and providing companionship to the senior citizens. Her most cherished memory was polishing the nails of her favorite senior, Vilma. In 2010, Ada Luz and her husband, Sean, attended a fundraiser for the Children’s Medical Fund (CMF). After learning all that CMF had done for the children of Cohen Children’s Medical Center (formerly Schneider’s Children Hospital), it’s no surprise she immediately became involved as a board member. Today, she is Co-President of CMF, Garden City Chapter. With the help and hard work of their incredible board, CMFNY has donated over $500,000 towards the Hematology/Oncology renovation and $200,000 to the Child Life Program. In 2012, $5,000,000 was donated to the Pediatric Diagnostic Studies. In 2013, over $20,000 was donated for iPads, blankets, Pillow Pets, pizza parties, and an additional $400,000 went to the Child Life Program. In 2015, CMF committed $10 million towards the building of the CMF Center for Pediatric Diagnostic Studies. One of their greatest achievements was in 2017 - the grand opening of the CMF Center for Pediatric Diagnostic Studies. CMF’s mission remains the same today: to provide ongoing funding for CMFNY programs that are vital to the needs of seriously ill children and their families. In addition to allocating her time to CMF, Ada Luz continues her career as a Court Reporter, and personal/group trainer. She is committed to developing the minds and bodies of her community. But mostly, she is a mom to two beautiful children and a devoted wife to her husband. A quote Ada Luz loves to live by: “To do more for the world than the world does for you – that is success” – Henry Ford.

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