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Jose and Beatriz work closely with Puentes de Salud, an organization formed by volunteer doctors that provides medical care to the uninsured immigrant community. Dr. Garces is a dentist and a board member of Puentes de Salud. Beatriz holds community days at her office once a week to help meet the great dental needs these patients face. Beatriz has seen first hand the need for a designated community center where Puentes de Salud could expand and meet the growing medical and dental demands of these patients, in their own community. The Garces Family Foundation will also support the Farm to Families Program established by St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children, which brings fresh fruits and vegetables to families that otherwise would not have access to it.

The Garces Family Foundation is looking to support the public schools with the highest enrollment of immigrant children. The foundation will help improve school facilities and provide these children with a better learning environment. The foundation will help create educational programs and school gardens for public school students in the Philadelphia area as well as Bucks County where Chef Garces’ Luna Farm is located. Garces Family Foundation will highlight the importance of connecting people to the food they eat and encourage healthier eating habits, particularly in children. The program will eventually expand to teach adults in the community who want to learn about sustainable farming and create community gardens in empty city lots.

Supporting our vibrant and growing immigrant community is a crucial part of nurturing a healthy city as a whole, and we are devoted to making Philadelphia the best place to live, work and play by seeing that all our citizens have access to the care and education that they need. The Garces Family Foundation will provide access to essential services that allow each member of our community to actively contribute his or her talents to making this city truly world-class.