Texas Border Business
The McAllen Heritage Center is pleased to announce that Elva M. Cerda, MHC Director was recognized at the 2018 47th Annual McAllen Mayor’s Prayer Luncheon as the recipient of their annual Community Service award.
The event was held at the McAllen Convention Center to a large group of attendees and featured movie actor and athlete T. C. Stallings as their keynote speaker.
The Community Service award is given to an impactful leader with a proven record of service which benefits our community and citizens.
Elva, who was born and raised in McAllen, has been a community volunteer over many years and has served on the boards of the Affordable Homes of South Texas (formerly McAllen Affordable Homes), Rio Grande Valley Builder’s Association, McAllen Housing Authority, Leadership McAllen alumni association, McAllen Heritage Center, PalmFest Folklife Festival, McAllen Development Corporation, Texas A & M Health Science Center advisory committee McAllen campus among many others.
She is one of the founders of the McAllen Heritage Center and PalmFest Folklife festival. Elva’s list of honors and accomplishments are many but notably, she was inducted into the Texas Festivals and Events Association Hall of Honor in 2016, the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame, McAllen Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year and Associate member of the year for the RGVBA.
She recently retired from successful 38-year banking career as a Senior Vice President and commercial real estate lender.
During her acceptance remarks Elva dedicated her award to the various organizations she feels honored to have served and praised the work done by many “unsung heroes” in our community which make McAllen a better place to live. She also noted the phenomenal work accomplished by advocates for mental health issues and suicide prevention in our area, as well as those helping to provide food, shelter, children’s services and health, need to so many.
Elva also thanked Mayor Jim Darling for the work done by the City of McAllen not only for providing all needed services to our citizens but also for lending their assistance as possible to organizations that provide certain needs in the community which is indicative of the city’s commitment to making our community a better place to live.
