Save Latin America (SLA) is a multiservice 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides vital support to low- and moderate-income families. Since its founding in 1991, SLA has partnered with corporations, foundations, local, state, and federal agencies, elected officials, community leaders, and fellow nonprofits to address a wide range of community needs.

SLA’s mission is to improve the quality of life for vulnerable and underserved populations by expanding access to resources such as healthcare, education, business development, legal support, and employment opportunities.

Over the past 34 years, SLA has delivered services to nearly one million individuals across New Jersey and New York. These services have primarily benefited residents from racial and ethnic minority communities, including Hispanics/Latinos and individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). SLA and its leadership have received hundreds of awards and recognitions from public and private institutions at the local and state levels, including Special Citations and Certificates of Appreciation from the New Jersey State Legislature and the US House of Representatives.

Today, SLA operates three signature programs: SLA’s Community Resource Center, Reaching Our Dreams, and SLA’s Family Health Festivals.

SLA’s Community Resource Center provides a broad range of programs and services, including health information and education; assistance applying for public benefits such as WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, Home Energy Assistance, and NJSave; support enrolling in health insurance options available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA); assistance with US citizenship applications and preparation for the naturalization interview; referrals for health screenings; and more. Since the Center’s inception in 2003, it has served nearly 275,000 individuals. Services are delivered using evidence-based practices supported by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). All programs are offered in a welcoming, community-based setting by culturally and linguistically competent staff—or, when appropriate, in community locations that best meet clients’ needs.

In October 2022, SLA expanded its service delivery by becoming a grantee of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs as a Community Outreach Agency. Now in its third year of operation, this initiative has provided education, outreach, and application assistance to nearly 10,000 Hudson County residents seeking support through state and federal Home Energy and Water Assistance programs.

Between May 2023 and April 2025, SLA also served as a grantee of the New Jersey Department of Health under the COVID-19 Vaccination Education and Outreach Grant Program. The program’s goal was to advance vaccine equity—ensuring that everyone has fair and just access to COVID-19 vaccination. By the end of the grant period, SLA met and/or exceeded all performance and outcome measures for this government-funded initiative.

Additionally, from August 2024 to August 2025, SLA served as a grantee of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services, for the Senior Save Navigators Education, Outreach, and Application Assistance initiative (NJSave). During this same period, SLA was also a grantee of the New Jersey Department of State, Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development, supporting Citizenship Education classes.

Since 1998, SLA has also planned, coordinated, and hosted 100 Family Health Festivals across New Jersey and New York, providing critical health screenings and information to more than 200,000 individuals. Community leaders, elected officials, residents, and funding partners have praised these events for their creative and highly effective approach to reaching vulnerable populations, including low-income residents, older adults, racial and ethnic minority communities, individuals with LEP, uninsured individuals, and those without a primary care provider. The 100th Family Health Festival was held in April 2025 at Union City High School in Union City, New Jersey, and attracted nearly 1,000 community residents.

Finally, Reaching Our Dreams has impacted more than 137,000 students in elementary, middle, and high schools since its launch in 1998. This youth empowerment and student engagement program encourages young people to think beyond their current circumstances, pursue higher education, and prepare for professional careers. First launched at Thomas Edison Elementary School in Union City, New Jersey, the program has since been implemented in numerous schools and communities throughout New Jersey and New York. It was created in response to the overrepresentation of Hispanic/Latino students in high school dropout rates and the underrepresentation of Latinos in higher education and among college graduates. Students in 3rd through 12th grades participate in program components that engage parents, teachers, school administrators, and community leaders—many of whom share similar backgrounds and have overcome comparable barriers to success. The program has received widespread recognition for its impact and its ability to inspire youth to reach beyond their circumstances and pursue their dreams.