As we celebrate the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month, from mid-September to mid-October, I want to wish you all a very special and memorable Hispanic Heritage Month and hope that you can celebrate throughout the month.  

As Hispanics, we have much to celebrate, our families, our cultures, our differences and our similarities, our accomplishments, and our love of life despite many challenges.  We are very fortunate living here in the United States where we can meet Hispanics from across the continent, or if able to travel, to see first-hand the many wonderful countries and their “gente” that make up our Hispanic families. 

My family comes from Mexico. I have had the fortune to have travelled there in my youth, learning Spanish as my first language and later when we moved there for a little over a year, I  “studied abroad” and built strong bonds with my “familia” before returning home to the US.  The joys of living both in the city and on the farm where my mom was born, is a true blessing as it provided experiences that forever tied my soul to Mexico (Mexico Lindo y Querido!) and my family. Here in the US, I have friends from El Salvador, Argentina, Guatemala, Belize, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Paraguay, and of course, Mexico. Through their friendships, music, dance, celebrations, food, faith, family, gusto for life, and continual drive to be the best and live life to the fullest, I see the beauty of their “Hispanidad” which I celebrate not just during this time, but always.  

As the National President of Hispanic Internal Revenue Employees, which include members from many Hispanic countries, I am proud to be a part of an organization that supports and celebrates all our roots and the continued growth in our personal and professional lives.   

May this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month be a reminder of the great things that we have accomplished and inspire you to become involved with our communities and support one another in our daily lives as we continue to surpass our dreams and goals.  

Patricia DiDonato

H.I.R.E. National President