On October 4, 2025, the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV) hosted its 36th Annual Hispanic Foundation Ball at the Signia by Hilton in San Jose. The evening was a vibrant celebration of community, resilience, and the transformative power of education and opportunity. Industry leaders, university partners, elected officials, and community supporters came together to show solidarity within the Silicon Valley community for Latinos in STEM.

President and CEO Ron Gonzales opened the evening with a powerful call to action, urging attendees to stand up for the Latino community. He reminded everyone that while new challenges emerge, our community continues to rise. Ron spoke about HFSV’s work creating pathways for youth to pursue careers in STEM and how it changes lives. “When we invest in our students, we fuel innovation and leadership for generations to come,” he said. His words set the tone for a night filled with purpose and pride.

The evening also celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Latinos in Technology Scholars Initiative (LITSI). Scholars from past years returned to share their journeys of success —from earning advanced degrees to leading in STEM industries. One of our scholars, Ivanna, has even become a homeowner. Scholars Daniel De Leon, Joseph Francisco Hernadez, Mara Leandro, Ivanna Rivera, Marieli Rubio, and Stephanie Torres. Each spoke about how the LITSI program opened doors, built networks, and inspired them to give back. Their stories were a powerful reminder that unlocking Latino talent benefits all of Silicon Valley. These are just six of our 450 scholars who have graduated from top universities. They each shared where they are now:

• Daniel completed his Master’s degree in Computer Science and worked as an AI Software Engineer at Intel.
• Joseph worked at UC Davis Health in the Center for Reducing Health Disparities.  
• Mara is a Reliability Engineer at Maxeon Corporation.
• Ivanna is a Network Security Domain Consultant at Palo Alto Networks.
• Marieli is Vice President of Impact at Career Launch, a social enterprise that empowers students to build professional networks within STEM companies.
• Stephanie is a Mechanical Design Engineer for power supplies and amplifiers at DB Control.

Another moving speech of the evening came from Juana, one of the 11,000 graduates of our Parent Education Academies. She spoke about her journey from Guanajuato, Mexico, to East San Jose and how the Foundation’s programs empowered her to support her children’s academic paths. Her son, Ángel, now studies mechanical engineering, while her younger son, Daniel, aspires to build his own computer and pursue a career in computer science. Juana’s story demonstrates that, through collective effort from HFSV, countless families are not only envisioning a brighter future but are actively working toward it.

With over 650 guests and 47 sponsors, we raised over $850,000. These proceeds support all of HFSV’s initiatives, including LITSI, parent education programs, mentorship opportunities, and STEM programs. 

The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is thankful for the collective impact of generosity from every sponsor, supporter, and scholar. Each dollar raised sustains our mission to increase Latino representation in STEM fields in Silicon Valley. Thank you to every individual who made this night a success. Save the date for next year’s Hispanic Foundation Ball: October 17, 2026