We have often criticized various Hispanic Week boards of directors for different reasons, most recently for violating its own rules, such as not to operate with cash. Proof of this was the alleged embezzlement carried out by the former treasurer, who left Hispanic Week in a precarious situation that many thought that this would be the end of the historic festival.
Although in its 18 years of life Rumbo has never stopped covering Hispanic Week activities, from its press conferences to pageants and parades, few presidents have taken the time, at the end of the festivities, to yield a financial report to be published. Among them it is worth mentioning Sarah Saldaña. Although Saldana was Hispanic Week President (2011/2012) when the embezzlement occurred, she had the strength to not only denounce it but to explain in great detail how it happened, and what would be the steps to take to prevent that from happening again.
Saldaña was reelected to direct the destiny of Hispanic Week 2012/2013 and as she explained during the press conference held on Thursday, October 3, 2013, the most important thing was to appoint someone honest as Treasurer. “Rosa Piña was confident that we could do it and with the help of Juanita Saldaña we did it.” Saldaña was referring to the fact that they began preparations for the festival 2013 with a debt of $10,883.00 from the years 2011 and 2012, ending the year with $1,998.00 in the bank, that’s not counting the $10,000 that were stolen. As Piña said, “Otherwise, we would have had more in the bank.”
We knew they could do it and that’s why we tip our hat to them!
