hernandezgrad05.htm

Antonia Hernández, President of California Community Foundation, Addresses CSULA Undergraduates at 58th Commencement,
Sat., June 11, 8 a.m.

Los Angeles, CA— This year’s Undergraduate Commencement ceremony address at California State University, Los Angeles will be delivered by Antonia Hernández, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation—one of the largest and most active philanthropic organizations in Southern California—and former president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a national nonprofit litigation and advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of the nation’s 35 million Latinos through the legal system, community education, research and policy initiatives.

More than 3,600 baccalaureate degrees will be conferred at CSULA’s 58th Commencement on Saturday, June 11, at 8 a.m., in the University Athletic Stadium. In addition, Raul Yzaguirre, recent past president and co-founder of the National Council of La Raza, will receive a CSU Honorary Doctorate.

Antonia Hernández

Nationally recognized for her commitment toward the betterment of underserved communities in Los Angeles and beyond, Antonia Hernández joined the California Community Foundation as President and CEO in February 2004.

Established in 1915, the California Community Foundation is one of the largest and most active philanthropic organizations in Southern California, with assets of more than $750 million. In partnership with its more than 1,200 individual, family and corporate donors, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations and public institutions with funds for health and human services, affordable housing, early childhood education, community arts and culture and other areas of need.

Previously, Hernández was president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a national nonprofit litigation and advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of the nation’s 35 million Latinos through the legal system, community education, research and policy initiatives.

An expert in civil rights and immigration issues, Hernández began her legal career as a staff attorney with the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice and worked as counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary before joining MALDEF in 1981 as regional counsel in Washington, D.C.

Hernández is a trustee for the Rockefeller Foundation and a member of the Board of Directors for the Automobile Club of Southern California and Golden West Financial Corporation. She serves on various commissions, advisory boards, committees and panels, including the Pacific Council for International Policy.

Hernández is a member of the State Bar of California and the District of Columbia Bar. She also is a member of the American Bar Association, the Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Hernández earned her B.A. in History at UCLA in 1970 and J.D. at the UCLA School of Law in 1974.

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WHAT: The Commencement of Cal State L.A.’s 58th graduating class will be a festive celebration. More than 15,000 people are expected at this year’s Undergraduate Commencement to witness the conferral of more than 3,600 bachelor’s degrees on SATURDAY June 11. At the Master’s Hooding Ceremony, June 10, more than 1,500 degrees will be conferred. On June 11, Antonia Hernández, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation, will address the undergraduate class of 2005, and Raul Yzaguirre, recent past president and co-founder of the National Council of La Raza, will receive a CSU Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. On June 10, Harold Goldwhite, former CSU Trustee and CSULA emeritus professor of chemistry, will address the master’s candidates.

WHEN: Undergraduates: Sat., June 11, 2005, 8:00 a.m. Master’s: Fri., June 10, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Cal State L.A.’s University Athletic Stadium, at the southeast corner of the campus. The University is located at the Eastern Avenue exit, San Bernardino (I-10) Freeway, at the interchange of the 10 and 710 Freeways.

INFO: For photos or interviews, call the Cal State L.A. Public Affairs Office at (323) 343-3050.

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