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Latinos Unidos, SAO
celebrate, conjunto, OSU-Michigan rivalry
By Kevin Milliken for La Prensa
Toledo, Nov. 26, 2011: The presidents of Latins United
(Latinos Unidos) and the Spanish American Organization
(SAO) worked together right up until kickoff Saturday
afternoon on their annual Ohio State-Michigan Fundraising
Party. After that, though, the pair became friendly
rivals—one rooting for the Buckeyes, the other for the
Wolverines.
“It gets the rivalry going with the game,” said SAO president
Phil Barbosa. “We have people who are members of both Latins
United and the SAO. It’s a ‘the more the merrier’ kind of
effect: everyone who wants to come in, even if you’re not a
member of either organization. On the days the doors are open,
you’re allowed to come in and hang out and join the party. ”
“Both organizations support kids who want to go to college,”
said Latins United president Richard Atwater, whose wife
hails from Toledo’s Jaimez family. “We also help people
in the community—folks who need Thanksgiving baskets, for
example.”
Barbosa was decked out in maize-and-blue University of Michigan
garb. Atwater was wearing scarlet and gray to cheer on Ohio
State. The pair of presidents ribbed each other throughout the
game, which went back-and-forth to a 40-34 final score in favor
of the Wolverines, breaking a 7-game losing streak.
“We get along no matter what,” Barbosa joked. “We still get
along, even today.”
Both men described the party as a fun way for Latino friends and
families to gather in a social atmosphere, watch the big game on
a projection screen, and share a potluck dinner—mostly Latino
cuisine and football fare. Latins United provides the main
course as well as the venue, then guests bring a covered dish to
share with others. SAO provides the advertising and publicity
for the event each year.
The party usually draws about 100 people and raises scholarship
funds for both groups through raffles and prize drawings. The
event is held each year at the Latins United fellowship hall,
beside SS Peter and Paul Catholic church.
“We do well,” said Barbosa.
Connie Rodríguez
and María Morales advised La Prensa that this
year’s winners of the SAO raffle were Butch and Debbie.
“It’s a nice event. We like it better when both teams are
numbers one and two,” said Atwater with a grin. “This has been a
challenging year for both schools, so we’ll see what shakes.”
Each school’s colors were prominently on display. The rivalry
divides even couples and families, where a husband may be
wearing scarlet and gray, and a wife decked out in maize and
blue. The chants went back and forth the whole game, depending
on which team was in the lead at any given moment.
Robert Torres
even returned to his native Toledo from Canton, Ohio, where he
works as the city’s economic development director. He was
watching the big game with his brothers and some old friends.
But Torres was teased throughout the game for wearing a Notre
Dame jersey and hat. His favorite team would play later that
evening against its long-time rival: Stanford.
But the decade-old tradition has become a strong draw for many
Latino families who are sports fans, even since the rivalry game
was moved to Thanksgiving weekend. The ones who will benefit
most are the Latino teens who have dreams of attending college.
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