Vicky Valle

Esperanza International was founded by Dave and Vicky Valle.A former Major League Baseball (MLB) player, Valle spent 19 years as a catcher for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers.Today, Valle works as a color analyst for the Seattle Mariners and covers regional MLB games as an announcer for ESPN.

The concept for Esperanza International was born in 1985 while Valle was playing in the Dominican Republic Winter League.Upon walking out of the ballpark after his first Winter League game, Valle and his wife found themselves surrounded by young children.At first, they thought the kids were seeking autographs, but soon they realized that the children were hungry and begging for food for themselves and their families.Concept became reality in 1995.Esperanza International has made more than 5, 000 loans to struggling Hispanic mothers totaling $ 600, 000.To date, 97 percent of these loans have been repaid in full.

This year, Esperanza International's primary fund-raiser was a gala event held in the center field pavilion in the new home of the MLB Seattle Mariners, Safeco Field.
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The participation by Conseco Fund Group and the personal generosity of its associates contributed immensely to the outpouring of support and the overwhelming results of this most incredible, record-setting evening, said Valle.

For more information or to make a donation, please write Esperanza International, 600 108th Avenue, NE, Suite 1014, Bellevue, WA 98004, or call (425) 462-5000.