Fondo Adelante celebrated San Francisco’s local business community with an evening of entrepreneurial stories, music, and food during Innovate, Collaborate, Prosper: The Power of Latino Businesses—a featured event of the 2025 San Francisco Small Business Week. Organized by Fondo Adelante, MEDA’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the gathering highlighted the strength, creativity, and resilience of local entrepreneurs.
Nearly 150 attendees gathered at the City College Mission Center for the event. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres joined the festivities and spoke with business owners.
“We want you to have a partner in City Hall,” said Mayor Lurie, outlining his administration’s goals to support and protect small businesses.
Sponsored by BMO Bank (lead sponsor) and Chase, the event featured a marketplace showcasing local businesses. Guests enjoyed food from Estrellita’s Snacks, INCA Juices, El Corazon Café, Alfajores Narciso, and Jarooochos Volovanes Veracruzanos. Community advocate and singer Francisco Herrera performed live, bringing music to the celebration.
Remarks were also shared by Malea Chávez, MEDA Chief Programs Officer; Rebeca Patiño, Vice President of Fondo Adelante; and Diana Ponce de León, Director of Community Economic Development at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. All expressed gratitude for the strong partnership between small business owners, MEDA, and City agencies—and acknowledged the vital role these businesses play in the economy.
2025 Awardees
From left to right, Dolores Padilla-Reyes and daughter Ana from SanJalisco Restaurant, Nayeli Bustamante from Flor de Oaxaca and Delia Suárez from Delia’s Little Angels.
To close the evening, Fondo Adelante presented three awards recognizing outstanding businesses in the categories of Legacy, Innovation, and Sustainability. This year’s honorees:
Legacy Business – SanJalisco Restaurant
A cornerstone of the Mission District, SanJalisco is a family-run restaurant rooted in the heritage of Anita and Vicente Padilla, who immigrated from Jalisco in the 1940s. Since 1988, their descendants have shared traditional recipes and home-style cooking with the community, preserving culture and connection through food.
Innovation Business – Flor de Oaxaca
Nayeli Bustamante discovered MEDA through self-sufficiency programs offered by the San Francisco Human Services Agency. Driven by bold vision and hard work, she launched a business that brings the spirit of Oaxaca to San Francisco, connecting the community to its cultural roots through food and experience.
Green Business – Delia’s Little Angels Daycare
Delia Suárez’s daycare is recognized for its holistic approach to early childhood education. By integrating nature into the learning environment, she provides children with a safe, enriching space that supports their development while promoting environmental awareness—benefiting families today and for generations to come.
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