Pete Garcia

Pete Garcia, former CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa and president of the Victoria Foundation, died Wednesday May 3 2017 of health complications at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was 71. Garcia led Chicanos Por La Causa for nearly 25 years from 1984 to 2008. The organization is one of Arizona's largest non-profits, working to empower working poor families. Garcia was also known as "Big Dog," a name he earned for his ability to get things done. Garcia grew up in the Marcos de Niza public housing neighborhood in south-central Phoenix. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Arizona State University in 1971. After working as a reading teacher he went to University of Southern California and graduated with a master’s degree in public administration. He then worked at Valle del Sol before joining CPLC. After retiring from CPLC, Garcia started the Victoria Foundation in 2008, an organization he named after his mother who pushed him to stay in school and out of trouble. The Victoria Foundation provides small grants for education programs, affordable housing, economic development projects and arts and culture activities. Garcia is survived by his wife, Sara, and three children, David, Iliana and Hilario.