DALLAS, July 17, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (Bank) is pleased to announce a $10,000 donation to the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference.
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The Bank's donation was used to sponsor the prayer breakfast's "A Certain Woman" award, which is given to someone who has been instrumental in enriching the Hispanic community.
This year's recipient, Maria Ruiz, was honored for her tireless work to feed and clothe children in Juarez, Mexico. For the past 12 years, Mrs. Ruiz travels several times a week from her home in El Paso, Texas, to Juarez to deliver food and clothing to Juarez children. Mrs. Ruiz cooks the food in her home and then packages it before delivering to the children. Mrs. Ruiz has been recognized as a finalist for the CNN Heroes "Hero of the Year" award in 2008. She also was selected by ABC's "Extreme Home Makeover" to receive a home makeover that provided her with a better equipped kitchen to prepare her meals. She currently is building an orphanage, community kitchen and trade center to teach the Juarez children a trade.
The Bank's donation made Mrs. Ruiz and her family's attendance at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast possible.
"It made a big difference because we were planning to just drive, but we don't have a family car; we have pickups, so we would be driving in a pickup all the way from El Paso," Mrs. Ruiz said. "It made it really nice and convenient. It's a long way and there's no way the four of us would have been able to fly."
The Bank was proud to be a sponsor of the event and the award.
"Mrs. Ruiz's tireless contributions to the Juarez community represent the true spirit of giving," said Terry Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. "Her efforts have helped hundreds of children."
Esperanza, one of the largest Hispanic faith-based evangelical networks in the United States, began hosting the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference in 2005 to recognize leaders that influence or have helped transform Hispanic communities.
"We are grateful for supporters such as the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas," said the Rev. Luis Cortes Jr. "This is Esperanza's eighth National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference. It wouldn't be possible without our partners."
About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 12 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. The Bank, with total assets of $68.7 billion as of March 31, 2009, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to more than 900 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit the Bank's web site at fhlb.com.
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The photos are also available via AP PhotoExpress.
