In recent days local and national friends of the ASPIRA Family have shown an overwhelming community support to ASPIRA of Florida and the Rafky Family. Words of condolences have been received from near and far. Ronald Blackburn Moreno from our National Offices immediately released this message: "It is a very sad day for ASPIRA of FL and indeed for all of ASPIRA, to lose such a kind and committed member of its family. Anita was truly a jewel at ASPIRA of FL and a joy to work with…" ASPIRA of Puerto Rico also sent their message.

When Anita was admitted to hospice at Baptist Hospital, Norie Del Valle, of the United Way of Miami-Dade, emailed me this message: "…she is a great person and an unbelievable advocate for ASPIRA and all the children."

Our friend Modesto E. Abety of the Children’s Trust added, "she is a valuable friend of children and families."

In fact all the board members remembered her to the very last moment, where she attended the last board meeting this past month.

One of our board members and Chancellor of Carlos Albizu University Dr. Gerardo Rodriguez-Menendez observes, "We are very sorry to hear of Anita’s passing. I recall that although ill, she was still present at the last ASPIRA Board Meeting. It was obvious that she was greatly committed to ASPIRA’s mission."

Now I join all of you, the board members, community leaders, Aspirantes and staff in acknowledging Anita’s commitment to service, the keystone of the ASPIRA Mission.

Anita was most comfortable when she was at ASPIRA. In fact she worked at ASPIRA almost up to her last days. We had just celebrated her birthday April 27^th when exactly two weeks later she was gone.

Anita began her final career at ASPIRA on January 15, 1990. It was Martin Luther King’s birthday. She always recalled this anniversary date with pride. She wanted to associate the beginning of her career at ASPIRA with that of the great civil rights leader. The association was obvious; Anita was about social change, social justice and advocacy, principles of ASPIRA.

Her career at ASPIRA spanned 15 years, a generation of time. During this generation ASPIRA’s growth has been unparalleled. During this period ASPIRA of Florida has risen to what would be the rank of the Top 20 largest Hispanic Nonprofits in the country. Helping propel the ASPIRA movement to the 2^nd largest Hispanic Nonprofit organization in the Nation.

Anita was ASPIRA’s reason for its success. ASPIRA’s budget was barely $289,000 in 1989. Today, ASPIRA’s revenues will approach nearly $9 million. ASPIRA had a neighborhood approach to dropout prevention services. Today ASPIRA is serving the South Florida region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Over 3,500 Aspirantes (ASPIRA program participants) and family members are served daily through ASPIRA’s youth leadership development/dropout prevention programs, Charter Schools and Night School.

Because of Anita’s grant writing skills, ASPIRA is able to secure the resources needed to keep students in school and not dropout at twice the national average. Because of Anita’s talents ASPIRA is able to encourage our high school seniors to pursue a higher education and enroll in college over 70% of the time. Because of Anita’s hard work, over 400 parents and children have fun at our family literacy and strengthening programs. Because of Anita, ASPIRA of Florida was able to raise the bar of excellence and standards of performance, making ASPIRA of Florida the premier model ASPIRA associate.

With exception of Iris, Milagros and myself, everyone owes their jobs to a grant that Anita wrote at one time. From a staff perspective, ASPIRA currently now employs over 175 members.

Anita was not just a hard worker, she was also a friend. She probably had many loves in life, her husband, her two sons and most recently Isabella and Nicolas, her two grandchildren. She loved shopping, Elvis, (Elvis the King – I could never understand how she could travel to and from Graceland, but yet always needed directions to get to the United Way building) and there was Raúl, me. During one of her evaluations she once wrote a "David Letterman" top 10 reasons why Anita will not leave ASPIRA list. This is it:

10. Sense of ownership – Accolade and Project H.E.L.P

9.   In charge when Raul and Willie are away.

8.   Talent Search not yet finished.

7.   Crime prevention money will be available (a new challenge – like hurricane funding).

6.   Pay raise is forth coming.

5.   South Dade Youth Coalition meetings.

4.   Love my office.

3.   Color monitor is coming.

2.   Ryder vans are coming.

1.   Raúl needs me.

Eating lunch at ASPIRA is a novel idea. In recent years, Anita and I would buy a sandwich and share it. It almost became a ritual for us. So we would eat our lunch and try not to discuss business. However, we would resolve all the worlds’ problems. We would talk about history, politics, republicans, democrats, poverty, children, and the news.

Anita was the true All American. She was intellectual, an Honors undergraduate student from Penn State University and a Graduate Master Degree student from Boston University.

Anita was the true American because she was altruistic and compassionate. She gave of herself to the Puerto Rican community as if she herself was one of us. The gifts she has given us will be memorialized in our actions to preserve her spirit of giving.

In the coming weeks ASPIRA will balance our mourning for the lost of one of ours with the celebration of three middle school graduations, five youth awards ceremonies and one Family Literacy event throughout South Florida. At each of these celebrations, we will dedicate a minute of silence. We will announce the availability of an Anita Jane Rafky "Writers" Scholarship of $100 in each of our divisions and charter schools, for the best Essay regarding "Why Community Service? – Why should we give back to our community?"

These are not the only actions that will be taken under Anita’s name. Frank Fins, the FIU ENLACE Program Director will also create the Anita Rafky Leadership Award, to be given to an Enlace Summer Camp student with the highest GPA. In addition, we will submit Anita for the Bank of America Neighborhood Heroes Award.

In closing I thank you on behalf of ASPIRA and Anita, the Vice President of Development and YLD Outreach at ASPIRA of Florida, Inc.

Raúl A. Martínez

ASPIRA of Florida, Inc.

President and CEO

May 15, 2005