MARILDA GÁNDARA

Marilda Gándara

Born in Cuba, former President of the philanthropic AETNA Foundation, 1998-2008. Ms. Gandara had a 30 career with Aetna — including Attorney Specializing in real estate and manager of a $5 billion real estate portfolio. She serves on the Executive Committee for the Veterans Day Parade, on the boards of CT Forum, Hartford Hospital, and Covenant Prep. She has been honored by many nonprofits, including Hispanics in Philanthropy, The Bushnell, Urban League of Greater Hartford, Metro Hartford Alliance and the CT Council for Philanthropy. She has a Law Degree from UCONN.Her mother and she fled Cuba to the US, when she was 10 years old.

New Nonprofit Operates Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame

The Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame was initially a project of the Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, Inc., a 501(c)3 charitable organization, which launched and operated the Hall of Fame from inception.  It was succeeded by the establishment during 2021 of the National Immigrant Heritage Center (NIHC), an independent 501(c)3 organization established as a multi-ethnic Center, inclusive in its mission, structure and governance. 

NIHC aims to promote and publish research, lectures and conferences on the many dimensions of Connecticut’s immigrant heritage and the role of immigration throughout the American economy and culture.  Its work, and the annual Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame induction ceremony, is to be supported by an endowment that organizers anticipate will sponsor, support and provide research fellowships, to further these activities and expand public awareness and understanding.

Email us at info@immigrantheritage.org or call 860-614-3488.