Christopher Lara, November 20, 2015
Fredrick Julian Gonzalez
and the Ric Gonzalez Memorial Foundation
Individuals
who possess traits that progress communities lead by having strong involvement and
innovative mindsets. Back in the 70’s, a spark created through the union of Ric
Gonzalez and his father would provide the starting mechanism to build a family
owned company- Gonzalez Design Engineering Company (GDEC)- which would lead to
his charitable giving. The charities he supported would give to families in
need, and even financially supplement students with scholarships to allow them
a gateway to succeed in life.
As
a business man, Ric Gonzalez led his company with strong connections to his customers
and employees. Gonzalez Design Engineering knew that supporting the Southwest
Detroit area would provide beneficial aspects, from basic financial strategies
to helping a community that needed jobs, so GDEC joined the Hispanic Manufacturing
Center (HMC). The ‘Empowerment Zone’ this family created in Detroit allowed for
the Hispanic community to flourish by using the labor force ready to work.
People who wanted to work, but couldn’t due to lower education could have a
fresh start at one of the three companies in the HMC. Mexicantown, which is
located in Southwest Detroit, wouldn’t have the families is does without the
employer to employee relationship Ric Gonzalez Engineering help establish.
This
newfound success led to Ric Gonzalez donating to a multitude of charities
needing help. One of which was created through his unfortunate death in 2004. The
Ric Gonzalez Memorial Foundation has given over 255 thousand dollars to 79
recipients over the last decade. This promotes the key that allows students to
succeed- financial aid in education. Although I don’t know how others will use
their scholarship money, I know what I’m going to do in order to secure my success.
I will be attending a four year college/ university in the fall of 2016, and I will
be using the money on my tuition. This will allow me to focus more on my
classes, and not how I’m going to pay for a big chunk of them. In return, I will
become a certified Nurse Practitioner and return to Detroit to help families in
lower income households.
Ric
Gonzalez lived a life of healthy relations with whom he worked with and what he
worked on, but some of the greatest accomplishments will come though the
plethora of scholarships awarded through the Ric Gonzalez Memorial Foundation. I
speak on behalf of the students who needed this push into the right direction
in saying, “Thank You Fredrick Julian Gonzalez and the Gonzalez Family.”
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