My Cinderella Experience at the State Dinner

By Maria Gomez, President and CEO

Dear Friends, Donors, and Supporters:
To all of our Mary’s Center friends, I dedicate this note to you for your unyielding commitment to our work. Without your longstanding support, Mary’s Center would not have had the privilege of the First Lady’s visit, the opportunity for our young teens to attend a State of the Union Address, or an invitation to the second State Dinner at the White House. Each one of you, through your extraordinary and significant support, have enabled us to grow in size, but even more importantly, in spirit.
All of you have been a source of strength and inspiration for me and my staff over the years. Many of you were there at critical moments in my professional life when my heart was in so much pain I felt I could no longer lead Mary’s Center. Your words, your solutions, and your hands-on actions brought me back with more enthusiasm and a deeper passion. I thank you and wish you that in your lives, angels come your way as you have been there for me.
My earnest gratitude goes out to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their tireless work on behalf of our great Nation. Thank you for embracing our city so profoundly. You truly understand the power that you have to transform the lives of our children forever.

My Cinderella Experience:

President Felipe Calderón and his wife Margarita Zavala were honored at the White House this past Wednesday, May 19th, with a State dinner that could be described as elegant, warm, and personable. Representing Mary’s Center, I was very fortunate and proud to receive an invitation and experience this momentous occasion with my husband. The security was tight but not imposing as we passed through the South East Gate and into the West Wing. We proceeded to walk down a corridor flanked by about 30 news photographers. All of this attention caught us by surprise, but we managed.

Once inside the White House, the atmosphere was a little more relaxed as guest mingled and exchanged greetings. We had the privilege of spending some personal time with California Congressman Xavier Becerra and his wife Carolina Reyes, Senator Menendez from New Jersey, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary Clinton, and others throughout the night. Equally wonderful was the time that we spent with Scott Schenkelberg from Miriam’s Kitchen, Lindsey Buss from Martha’s Table, and their magnificent wives as we shared our once in a life time opportunity to be able to serve in our communities during these special days in Washington. For that night, the everlasting chore of searching for funding was erased from my mind. Of course, there were a few Hollywood celebrities including Eva Longoria Parker (Desperate House Wives) and George Lopez.


At the appropriate time, the guests were gently prodded into the East Room to designated tables set around the periphery of the room and surrounding a long rectangular table near the center at which the two presidents and their wives and entourage were to be seated. Dinner was magical with a menu of superb Mexican food created by the Obama’s favorite Chef from Chicago, Rick Bayless. The ceviche could melt in your mouth, but my favorite was the Oregon Wagyu beef with mole sauce that tantalized with such amazing flavors. A few of the people at our table included New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and one of his offensive linemen D’Brickashaw Ferguson, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Both presidents gave warm, salutary speeches and toasts that emphasized the bond between the two countries. First Lady Michelle Obama expressed her appreciation to the White House kitchen staff and the Marine Corp band for their support and hard work that helped to make the event memorable. The First Lady’s genuine and heartfelt words deeply touched my heart.

After dinner, trams shuttled the guests to a large tent for the evening entertainment. The tent covered an area that was about three quarters of the size of a football field with columns twenty feet high to support a ceiling from which three large flower baskets hung adorned with lines of simulated monarch butterflies. This butterfly theme was in honor of President Calderón, whose birthplace is Michoacán, Mexico where the monarchs make their annual migration from Canada. The evening started with acoustic guitarists originally hailing from Mexico City, Rodrigo y Gabriela. With a rousing Spanish guitar they played rock and a touch of heavy metal. This was followed by our own diva Beyoncé and her song “Irreplaceable” with my favorite line “To the Left, to the Left…” The evening ended beautifully as I shared the warmest moment all by myself with Mrs. Robinson, the First Lady’s mother. It doesn’t get any better than that!

The event was memorable and historic, and I felt honored and humbled to represent our Mary’s Center community and the important work that has been delivered to our community for the last 22 years. I remember a quote that caught my attention recently that stated that “we should judge each day not by its harvest, but by the seeds that we plant.” Although the author was anonymous, I feel that these sentiments best describe our renewed bonds with our Mexican brothers and sisters, especially in this time of controversy and strife.