LA JOLLA, Calif.

Gracia Molina Enriquez de Pick, an activist in the international feminist movement and lifelong proponent of educational reform was the honoree for the University of California at San Diego's Cesar Chavez celebration kickoff on Tuesday (April 1). She was being recognized for her recent $125,000 challenge gift that will endow the Gracia Molina de Pick Endowed Fund for Chicano/a Studies to support the Chicano/a~Latino/a Arts and Humanities minor program in the Division of Arts and Humanities at the university.

UC San Diego created the minor program in 2002 to offer students a wide knowledge of Spanish-speaking and indigenous histories and cultures. Molina de Pick's gift will be used to enhance the program, by bringing renowned scholars and artists to campus for public lectures, performances and exhibits.

“With this generous gift - the first endowed fund for our program - Gracia Molina de Pick continues her life-long activism and unwavering support for Latinas and Latinos in higher education,” said Jorge Mariscal, UC San Diego professor of Literature and director of the Chicano/a~Latino/a Arts and Humanities minor program. "Gracia's generosity should serve as inspiration to others throughout San Diego, motivating them to help students of all backgrounds learn about the history and culture of the fastest growing demographic group in California."

"I don't have a lot of money - but I'm rich in so many other ways," Molina de Pick said. "Everything I have, I give to the causes. I hope others will also help in raising the consciousness of the people of our community. The UC San Diego Chicano/a~Latino/a Arts and Humanities minor program is critically important, but it needs to be nourished and it needs resources."

Her gift of real property, which provides the seed money for the Gracia Molina de Pick Endowed Fund for Chicano/a Studies, launches a grassroots fundraising effort conducted by her friends, including former students, staff and those she has mentored over the years, who are seeking to raise $125,000 in matching funds. This challenge will culminate March 2009 in a Women's History Week event that will feature Gloria Steinem as keynote speaker. For more information, call the UC San Diego Arts and Humanities Office of Development at 858-534-9097.