May 14, 2023 – (Los Angeles, CA) — Miguel A. Santana, President and C.E.O. of the Weingart Foundation, a private grantmaking foundation that partners with communities across Southern California to advance racial justice, released the following statement.

“Today, we join all Angelenos in mourning the loss of a tremendous pioneering leader, Supervisor Gloria Molina.

“As the first Latina in the California State Assembly, the Los Angeles City Council, and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, she not only opened doors for others to follow, she transformed lives. Many within our Weingart community have had the privilege of working alongside Supervisor Molina over her decades of service on behalf of vulnerable communities.

“The values she modeled continue to inform and inspire many of us including putting community first and always doing the right thing, no matter how difficult. She reminded us that we are not done fighting for equity until the community sees and feels the difference. She always fought the Good Fight with the ganas, ethics, and integrity that would make the community proud.

“As we advance the Foundation’s mission of building equity and justice, we may ask, ‘What would Gloria do?’ The answer is never to take the easiest path forward or the most popular, but to always fight for what is most impactful for the communities we are committed to serve.

“On behalf of the Weingart Foundation, thank you, Gloria, for your vision, example, and for being our community’s voice and champion.”

ABOUT THE WEINGART FOUNDATION
The Weingart Foundation is a private, nonprofit grantmaking foundation that partners with communities across Southern California to advance racial, social, and economic justice for all. Our vision is a dynamic and effective social change sector that is creating equitable systems and structures needed to achieve justice. Founded in 1951, the Foundation has to date granted over $1 billion to organizations, strengthening their efforts in human services, housing, health, education, and community power building. In addition, the Foundation builds networks and collaboratives with philanthropic, public sector, and community leaders to advance equity and justice together.