Third Anniversary Celebrat ion
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VIVA! THE WOODLANDS MAGAZINE CELEBRATES THREE YEARS INTEGRATING THE COMMUNITY The Woodlands based publication commemorates its third anniversary building bridges for the Hispanic community lmost every individual who resides in The Woodlands will agree in confirming the wonderful place this master-planned community has become. Visitors and residents alike tend to feel astonished by the urban organization of the area, the vast diversity of parks, lakes and forests that surround this community, the friendliness of its inhabitants, the wide variety of businesses and services that are located here.
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This appreciation is clearly shared by the thousands of foreign nationals that have decided to make The Woodlands their home, especially a large number of Hispanic residents -an ever-growing community that has boosted not only local diversity but also businesses and organizations in the region. With this in mind, it would only seem natural to find a local lifestyle magazine in The Woodlands that would cater to this specific community. And that magazine just celebrated its third anniversary party at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. Three years ago, VIVA! The Woodlands Magazine emerged as a Spanish-language publication with one clear purpose: serve as a bridge of communication to help integrate the growing Hispanic community, both among fellow Latin Americans and the rest of American society. And this is precisely what VIVA! is today; a consultation tool (based on the local experiences by those same Hispanic residents) that works as a window to the exceptional lifestyle that has identified The Woodlands.
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A great number of local organizations have supported this wonderful integration initiative; many of them having been associated with the magazine since its first edition in 2012. Organizations like the Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos (AEM), United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Asociación Amiga, Interfaith of The Woodlands, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber are just some of the entities that not only understand the magazine’s vision but strongly believe in its objective. Large companies like Aeromexico, The Woodlands Mall, The Woodlands Development Company, Star Furniture and The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center (among other hotels, hospitals, restaurants and law firms) have permanently used its pages to promote their products and services to the upscale Hispanic market. According to Marycarmen Osawa, President of Asociación Amiga, “VIVA! has opened a window of communication to the Hispanic community, and above all, it has allowed us to join the effort to respectfully bond with this community that gives us so much.” This statement is also shared by many leaders from the business sector. As stated by Carlos Gutierrez, President of AEM The Woodlands, “Thanks to mechanisms such as Viva! we are more united as Hispanics, better aligned as entrepreneurs and more connected to what happens in the community.” These efforts have also been of great importance to local organizations that are not necessarily Hispanic-oriented. Such is the case of Interfaith of The Woodlands, a non-profit social service agency that has been linked to this publication since it first started. Over the past three years, VIVA! and Interfaith have worked in various charitable projects seeking to improve the living conditions of local residents. According to Dr. Ann Snyder, President and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands, “VIVA! has been a wonderful project that has achieved great results in the past three years; it is a vehicle for the Hispanic population to learn more about our community and that adds an enormous value to the growing diversity of The Woodlands.” Perhaps one of the best examples of the magazine’s success was its recent third anniversary celebration at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. Community leaders like former Harris County Sheriff and candidate for Houston Mayor Adrian Garcia, Councilman and former Vice Mayor Ed Gonzalez, corporate executives, and other influential personalities from the Houston area attended the party to reconfirm their support. A joint educational scholarship fund between VIVA! and Asociación Amiga was also announced. More than 20 businesses participated in a Silent Auction to benefit Interfaith of The Woodlands, including brands like United, Norton Ditto, Calypso St. Barth’s, Aeromexico, Elaine Turner and Lamborghini. Hundreds of guests from all backgrounds gathered on this special occasion, demonstrating that VIVA! The Woodlands Magazine has truly integrated the community at large.
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Everyday more businesses and organizations are recognizing the significance of the Hispanic consumer market in the United States, an element that we have clearly seen in The Woodlands, where Hispanics now represent almost a third of the population. Witnessing the evolution of this concept over the past three years has been an enriching experience for the whole community; it’s been three years building integration bridges aiming to benefit all residents, and thanks to initiatives like VIVA! The Woodlands Magazine, those bridges are becoming stronger as each day passes. 1 // The celebration included a Silent Auction benefiting Interfaith of The Woodlands // 2 // More than a hundred guests gathered to celebrate the special occasion // 3 // Carlos Gutierrez, President of AEM The Woodlands, and Rosendo Villarreal // 4 // Heidi Herfurth, Editor of VIVA! The Woodlands Magazine, showing a recognition certificate from Asociación Amiga // 5 // Dr. Ann Snyder, President and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands // 6 // Marycarmen Osawa, President of Asociación Amiga // 7 // Emilio Guzman, Investor Relations Director at Houston EB5 // 8 // Houston Councilman and former Vice Mayor Ed Gonzalez // 9 // Local media covering the anniversary celebration // 10 // Former Harris County Sheriff and candidate for Houston Mayor Adrian Garcia // 11 // The event took place at The Glass Room in The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center // 12 // Walter Suhr, vocalist of Mango Punch! during the show // 13 // VIVA! The Woodlands Magazine doubled the amount of funds donated for the Silent Auction benefiting Interfaith of The Woodlands. In the picture; Tracy Halverson, Dr. Ann Snyder, President and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands, Heidi Herfurth, Editor of VIVA! The Woodlands Magazine, and Missy Herndon
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