Pan American Bank (Los Angeles), New Media Nonprofit Join in Unique Collaboration

Pan American Bank (Los Angeles) today announced a first-of-its-kind bank/nonprofit collaboration. Beginning in January 2010, Pan American Bank, East Los Angeles’ only bank, will host the operations of LatinoGraduate.net at its East Los Angeles corporate headquarters.

LatinoGraduate.net, a nonprofit national educational Web broadcasting organization founded by high school professor Armando Sanchez, was established in 1992 for the purpose of educating parents and students on the process of college admissions, applying for financial aid, winning scholarships and academic success in an effort to increase the number of U.S. Latino college graduates. LatinoGraduate.net achieves its goals through live and recorded broadcasts via the Internet.

“We are thrilled to donate our space to LatinoGraduate.net. The reduction of university and community college budgets has resulted in an incredibly competitive landscape for quality college education. As a significant supporter of the largely Latino communities of East Los Angeles and Santa Ana, Pan American Bank is eager to do what it can to assist local youth in obtaining critical information that can significantly improve their chance of success in the college admissions process and provide a foundation for academic success,” said Pan American Bank CEO Jesse Torres. “In addition to providing youth with the tools needed for success, LatinoGraduate.net also provides inspirational programming that includes the Latino/Latina Role Model Series.”

Apart from Pan American Bank, LatinoGraduate.net is supported by organizations such as The Walt Disney Company, ABC7 television, ESPN, Univision, NBC, Telemundo, KLVE Radio and Vida Nueva. LatinoGraduate.net is a partner of the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. LatinoGraduate.net has had nearly 1 million viewers to-date from across the U.S.

A Studio Grand Opening/Open House will take place on Friday, February 5, 2010. In attendance will be local and national dignitaries. There will be a photo opportunity for the media immediately following the ceremony.

WHAT: LatinoGraduate.net Studio Grand Opening/Open House
WHERE: Pan American Bank Headquarters, 3626 E. First St., Los Angeles, CA 90063
WHEN: Friday, February 5, 2010. 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Ceremony at 6:45 pm.
QUESTIONS: Tony Ramirez, (323) 264-3310, TRamirez@PanAmericanBank.us

Established in 1964, Pan American Bank is California’s oldest Latino-owned bank. Headquartered in East Los Angeles, Pan American Bank serves the needs of the Latino communities in Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Founded by former U.S. Treasurer Romana Acosta Banuelos, the Bank has stayed true to its mission of transforming and empowering Latino communities through banking relationships built on trust, service, respect, communication, and guidance. Pan American Bank's Facebook page can be found at http://bit.ly/pab-facebook. The Bank’s blog is found at http://PanAmericanBank.blogspot.com. Pan American Bank can be followed on Twitter as @PanAmericanBank.