Leading by Example | UnidosUS

Elida and Ruben Huerta: Uplifting Others Is a Moral Obligation

Elida and Ruben Huerta have been unwavering donors to UnidosUS for 15 years. Born in Brownsville, Texas, Elida spent most of her early childhood there, when she wasn’t following the harvests with her family. “I remember being a small child picking cotton,” she shares.

By the time she was 9 years old, Elida’s family had settled in California. Eventually, she became a nurse and met Ruben, whose parents had been migrant workers. Later, his father became a barber and his mother earned a nursing degree once her children were grown. She had always motivated and encouraged her kids to obtain higher education degrees. Thus, Ruben graduated from Stanford University and went on to work as a civil engineer.

Ruben and Elida have been married for 46 years and have two daughters, one of whom graduated from Stanford and the other from Harvard. The Huertas are beyond proud of their daughters but note that they, like many Latino parents, had struggled and sacrificed to put their children through college.

“It’s so important to make sure someone in Washington, DC, is speaking up on our behalf, so our community gets access to affordable health care, housing and education,” Elida explains, when asked about why the couple supports UnidosUS. She adds, “It’s also a moral obligation to help others because of what I experienced growing up.”

Ruben notes that they also deeply believe that, to have a working democracy, the country must have an informed electorate. So, for the Huertas, UnidosUS’s voter registration and civic engagement efforts are extremely important. He explains, “People have to know what they’re voting for. We need Latinos to understand that their vote matters, not only at the national [level] but also [at] the local level.”

“At this time, especially, we all need to get involved in donating. UnidosUS is there for us, and we need to support what they do for us,” Elida adds.

As retirees, the Huertas have enjoyed traveling the globe. They’ve especially treasured visiting their daughters: one who works internationally with the State Department and the other who has lived and studied abroad. They’ve shared family adventures in Japan, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Italy and Belgium.

Join the Huertas in making sure Latino voices are not just heard but centered! Visit our Gift Catalog today and choose the impact that matters most to you!