AMIGOS Celebrates 58 Years of Transformative Volunteer Abroad Experiences for Houston Youth
Advocates for global connections and experiential education came together on Friday, November 4, at Hotel ZaZa - Museum District to celebrate the 58th anniversary of Houston nonprofit Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS) at the Lifelong Leaders Luncheon.
- Houston, TX (1888PressRelease) November 10, 2022 - Lifelong Leaders Luncheon co-chairs Kellie and Chad Motsinger, Laura and Steve Otillar, Samantha Schnee and Michael Hafner, and Kendall and Carlos Solé welcomed more than 200 attendees. Scott and Catherine Roberts, Viviana and David Denechaud, and Steve and Allyson Cook were among the supporters of this homegrown organization with a worldwide reach. Art Rascon emceed the event.
Tony Chase, Chairman and CEO of ChaseSource LP and parent of an AMIGOS alumnus, delivered the keynote at the event. A nationally recognized multi-ventured business owner, Tony is an honors graduate of Harvard College, with a law degree from Harvard Law School and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Tony is Professor Emeritus at the University of Houston Law Center where he taught for 30 years. Tony recently chaired the City of Houston/Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund and currently serves on the board of several non-profits in the city of Houston. He delivered an empowering speech on the importance of bringing people together from different backgrounds. Tony paid tribute to his father who was the first Black student at the University of Texas and first Black architect in the state of Texas. He highlighted his son’s journey to Panama with AMIGOS at 15 and the curiosity about the world it created.
The event honored Betsy Griffin, a recognized leader in the greater Houston area. Betsy served in board and advisory positions for the organization from 1983 –2020. She first joined the board in 1983 after learning about AMIGOS from her lifelong friend Margaret Guerrero. In addition to her service with AMIGOS, Betsy served as the Executive Director of the Houston International Protocol Alliance, Executive Director for the Rice Design Alliance, President of the Junior League of Houston, and much more.
After being inspired by Tony Chase, supporters were moved by 18-year-old Perla Quintero, a graduate of Challenge Early College High School and current freshman at University of Houston, who joined an AMIGOS experience this summer in Ecuador. Perla says, “I learned so much about myself. I now recognize my limits and don't feel disappointed in them. I feel motivated to keep working on my weaknesses to make them my strengths.”
In total, the Lifelong Leaders Luncheon raised nearly $110,000 for AMIGOS. Funds raised from the event will support youth leadership programs for students from across the Americas as well as the organization’s Financial Assistance Fund. Corporate sponsors for the luncheon benefit in Houston included MAS Restaurant Group, Dykema, White & Case, Higginbotham, Westwood Trust, Brombacher & Co. Properties, Fletcher Held, and NX Media.
Who: Tony Chase and Dr. Dina Alsowayel, Fred and Betsy Griffin, Paul Stebbins, Mark and Katherine Yzaguirre, Mariela Poleo and Alfredo Sabal, Art Rascon, Scott and Catherine Roberts
About AMIGOS in Houston
As the place where AMIGOS began 58 years ago, Houston has always played a special role in our impact. Over the decades, AMIGOS has influenced the lives of more than 2,300 students from the Houston area. We are enthusiastic about this new format for our annual benefit in Houston that will expand opportunities for Houston’s youth.
Since its founding in Houston in 1965, AMIGOS has served more than 30,000 young people in thousands of communities throughout the Americas. AMIGOS envisions a world where these young leaders and all of us become lifelong leaders sharing responsibility for our global community.
Mission: Amigos de las Américas inspires leaders through authentic service and immersion experiences.
Vision: A world where all people are lifelong leaders sharing responsibility for our global community.
For more information, visit our website at amigosinternational (dot) org.
###
space
space
Satisfied Users & 
Approved Press Releases
Print
Email
Report Spam