Donna LaVIgne

Adviser

Past Region V President

Career: Worked at the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, and later became a Language Instructor for the US Peace Corps Volunteers. While working in Kalibo, I met my husband, Atty, Jay LaVigne, as he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. We moved to the United States and have lived in Colorado since 1983. We have a daughter, Mahal and a grandson, Ellis.

Education: Boracay was so small, I had to travel to Kalibo, capital town of Aklan for high school and college.

Community: I have been active in the Colorado’s Filipino and Asian-American Communities since my arrival in 1983. My efforts include being FACC President; Co-chair of the Aurora Asian Pacific Community Partnership; Founding Board Member of the Governor’s Asian American Advisory Council; Founding Member of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA); multi-term Chair for NaFFAA Region V; Board Member of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival; served on local Commissions that guided the founding efforts of the City and County of Broomfield; currently Vice President of the recently founded Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, a non-profit with a mission of promoting Philippine arts, culture, and history. Its first planned project is the installation of a life-sized statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippine National Hero, in Colorado Springs.

Fun Fact: The following are recognition and accolades I received:  Humanitarian Award both from Uplift Internatioanale, and Mending Faces; Honorary Chair for the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival; Honorary Proclamation from Colorado Governor as Council Member of the Governor’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Council; Asian American Heroes of Colorado; Leadership and Service Award from the Aurora Asan/Pacific Community Partnership; Lifetime Achievement Award from NaFFAA Region V; Outstanding Leadership, and Lifetime Membership Award from the FACC; Lifetime Achievement Award from Naturelle Well Earth International; Prism Award for Women with Style and Achievement, Gintong Pamana Award, Chicago; Most Outstanding Alumni, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Philippines.

Giselle rushford

Adviser
Past Region V President

Flor Obana

Adviser

Past Region V President