November 14, 2024

Media Contacts:
Rachel Evey, WVC Foundation executive director, 509-682-6415
José Iniguez, Encanto Arts founder and executive director, 206-384-0983

^{Top Row Left to Right: Maria Iñiguez, WVC chief of staff and Iñiguez family member  | Ricardo Iñiguez, Wenatchee High School assistant principal and Iñiguez family member  | Rachel Evey, WVC Foundation executive director
Bottom Row Left to Right: Ron Lodge, Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra board chair & WVC Foundation board member | Jose Iñiguez, Encanto Arts executive director | Dr. Faimous Harrison, WVC president}

The Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) Foundation received $50,000 in contributions from Encanto Arts’ inaugural Encanto Concierto for WVC in September 2023. The next benefit concert will be held October 11, 2025, in the WVC Music and Art Center’s Grove Recital Hall.

Founded by José Iñiguez, Encanto Arts has partnered with colleges and universities across Washington state to establish scholarship endowments. The Iñiguez Family Endowment Scholarship is Encanto Arts’ fourth endowment in the State of Washington. The scholarship fund benefits WVC students who have an affiliation with the Latino community, with preference to students participating in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).

Encanto Arts Executive Director José Iniguez, the visionary behind the program, understands firsthand the challenges farmworker families face in supporting their children’s artistic dreams. Growing up working in the orchard fields of Mattawa, WA, José found solace and purpose in the arts, which gave him a sense of clarity and direction. He credits his parents, family, fellow board members and supporters for encouraging him to dream big and instilling in him the belief that one can make a real difference in their community.

José’s personal journey fuels his passion for ensuring that future generations, particularly those from rural and underserved areas, have access to the arts. Under his leadership, Encanto Arts has become a beacon of hope, bringing cultural opportunities and artistic programs to communities that might otherwise be overlooked. "The arts gave me a way to make sense of the world around me," says José, "and I want every child, no matter where they come from, to know that they can achieve their dreams through the arts.”

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The WVC Foundation was incorporated in 1971. The foundation’s mission is to provide equitable access to education and invest in student success through philanthropy. For information on how to make a gift to the foundation, establish a scholarship or include the WVC Foundation in your estate plans, contact (509) 682-6410. Visit the WVC Foundation website at http://www.wvc.edu/foundation.

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses:

• To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Joe Eubanks, Mish ee twie, 1321A, (509) 682-6716, title9@wvc.edu.
• To request disability accommodations: Student Access Manager, Jenna Floyd, Wenatchi Hall 2131, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.