John & Haydee Mata

For us, supporting immigrant families is personal.

I was born and raised in Long Beach after my parents immigrated from Mexico and built their lives here. John also comes from a family of immigrants. His grandparents immigrated from Mexico and Poland and built their lives in Ontario, California.

Our families have different stories, but both are rooted in the courage it takes to leave what you know, start over, and build a better future for the generations that come after you. Their stories are a big part of who we are today.

That’s why this Long Beach Gives, we’re raising funds to support ÓRALE’s Mutual Aid program and immigrant families in the community I was born and raised in and that we continue to call home.

Every two weeks, ÓRALE’s Mutual Aid program brings families together to access fresh food, health and wellness resources, important information, and other support. It’s a space rooted in something we both deeply believe in: community taking care of community.

We know our families didn’t build their lives alone. Like so many immigrant families, they relied on community, relationships, hard work, and people looking out for one another.

Supporting Mutual Aid is one way we can continue that same spirit of community and make sure families today have somewhere to turn when they need support.

This Long Beach Gives, we’re asking our friends and family to join us. Whether you can give $10, $25, $50, $100, or whatever feels right to you, every donation will help make Mutual Aid possible.

Our families came here hoping to build a better future for the generations that followed. We’re proud to honor their stories by helping other immigrant families continue building theirs.

Thank you for supporting something that means so much to us.

With love,
Haydee & John