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“We are moved and inspired by the entire Montes family’s spirit of generosity and compassion”, said Identity Board Chair Sarah Whitesell,” and we are thankful for the difference they will make in the Identity community, one family at a time.”
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One of the many helped by the fund was a young mother in our workforce development program. Her baby boy was born last fall, forcing an unpaid maternity leave from her job as a Certified Medical Assistant at a local hospital. Her partner does his best to provide for the family, but his job laboring at a cemetery near their home doesn’t cover all their needs each month. Our client is also doing her best to help her mother who suffers from a mental illness, and recently started living out of a van. Emergency assistance from the Cristina G. Montes Family Fund covered necessities that were critical to preventing further crisis and disruption.
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Cristina Gurdian Montes (1949 - 2021) was a renaissance woman who served others selflessly throughout her life and believed in the promise of Identity youth and their families. Born in Costa Rica, Cristina came to D.C. intending to complete her college education. She worked professionally as a diplomat at the Costa Rican Embassy and an environmental health specialist at the Montgomery County Public Health Service, became an accomplished artist and photographer, and while raising her two children, served as a volunteer at schools, churches and museums. Her family described her as a person of great character and integrity. She was generous with her philanthropy as well as her time. Throughout her life she continued to rally support for families in distress locally as well as in Costa Rica. “Cristina's dedication to helping others was always a success and performed with the utmost humility” reflected Henry, Enrique, and Liana.
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As the one-year anniversary of Cristina’s death on March 3rd is marked, the Montes family hopes that the CGM Family Fund honors and continues her character of service to others.
We know it does.
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The Montes Family
created this fund with monthly income from a retirement account, an innovative way to make a consistent difference over time and improve the lives of families in need.
Henry, Enrique & Liana Montes
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