Carolina Bortolleto was born in Brazil and moved to Danbury, CT at the age of 9 with her parents and twin sister. She studied at Western Connecticut State University, and graduated in 2010 with a BA in Biology and minors in International Studies and Anthropology.
She describes herself as a “Science nerd with a passion for politics and social justice” and most importantly, as “Undocumented and Unafraid” as she has been a leader in the undocumented immigrant youth movement nationwide.
In October 2010, she co-founded Connecticut Students for a Dream (C4D), a statewide organization of young adults that works for the rights of undocumented youth and their families, and serves on the United We Dream board, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation.
Her American Dream, is to continue to empower undocumented immigrant youth to reach their full potential, in a society where immigration status is not a barrier to education.
But Carolina has been at Danbury Hospital since early December 2014. With sudden stomach complications, she had to undergo 6 major emergency surgeries, was in medically induced coma for 20 days, and had a lengthy stay in the ICU.
April 6, marked four months that she has been at the hospital, she will likely continue her stay for more weeks to come as she continues to recover and heal in the care of doctors and surgeons. Due to Carolina’s immigration status she does not have health insurance, and her medical bills are growing and will be over $100,000.
But is a fighter, and has faced her situation the same way she has dealt with adversity in her life, with determination, strength and lots of love and support from her parents, her sister and friends.
She was a finalist of Tribuna Newspaper’s American Dream Person of the Year Award in 2014, and has been nominated by her co-workers, family and friends many times this year for the same honor.
Every year the proceeds of ticket sales of the American Dream Awards are directed to The Western Connecticut Health Network Foundation, to support and advance the programs and services that the network provides to our community through Danbury Hospital and New Milford Hospital.
However, this year the organizers of the event, in light of Carolina’s extreme circumstances, and the excellent care she has been receiving at Danbury hospital have decided to direct the proceeds of ticket sales to her Danbury Hospital medical account in an effort to help alleviate the cost of her treatment.
The Gala will be held on May 16, 2015, at the Portuguese Cultural Center in Danbury. Tickets are $85.00 and include a $50 donation to Carolina’s Danbury Hospital medical account, live concert, cocktail hour, three-course dinner, soft drinks, coffee service & cash bar.
ABOUT TRIBUNA NEWSAPPER & 2014 AMERICAN DREAM AWARDS
Tribuna Newspaper is a biweekly publication in English, Portuguese and Spanish, has upheld its mission to build bridges and join cultures, by providing its readers with content that connects them with the communities where they live.
In that process, it has come across compelling stories of immigrants, like Tribuna’s founders, who migrated to the U.S many years ago, and faced many challenges along their journey to achieve their American Dream.
On April 19, 2014, in celebration of its 15th Anniversary, Tribuna created the American Dream Awards Gala, an annual awards ceremony designed to recognize members of the community who share in Tribuna’s founder’s story. Over 130 nominations of individuals from nine different countries were received and before 320 guests in attendance, over $22,000 were given in scholarship awards to four recipients, donations to the Greater Danbury Hispanic Center and Western Connecticut Health Network Foundation. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) delivered an inspiring speech on the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
2015 GALA AWARDS GALA
The American Dream, Person of the Year, Veteran of the Year, Student of the Year award recipients will be revealed that evening. But we will also be honoring Danbury Public Library as the Nonprofit of the year, and Attorney Americo S. Ventura with a Lifetime Achievement Award
Attorney Americo S. Ventura will be honored with a lifetime achievement award. Ventura founded the law firm of Ventura, Ribeiro & Smith in 1957. He was recently honored by the Connecticut Bar Association for 50 years of service in the legal field. He was also honored by the Portuguese Bar Association of CT for his 50 Years of Service to the Community, where he was presented with a Proclamation by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. Attorney Ventura was one of the founding members of the Portuguese Bar Association of CT and currently holds the position of President.
Ventura was born in Danbury, CT to Portuguese immigrants coming from the Northeastern part of Portugal. He was a member of both the Sons of Portugal and Portuguese American Clubs and is a member of the successor of both clubs, the Portuguese Cultural Center, in Danbury and is responsible for the library at the Center. He is a founding member of the Sons of Portugal Scholarship Fund and is also one of the five original founders of the Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church (1981).
For entertainment, the event will feature Zé Rodrigo, one of the greatest Brazilian singers with a career spanning 20 years, more than 2,000 concert performances in more than 300 cities all over the world and, currently, with 12 albums and 2 DVDs. On 2012, the World Sports Alliance Intergovernmental Organization (WSA), founded under the auspices of the United Nations in 2007, appointed Zé Rodrigo as Goodwill Ambassador for the “LivelyUp Music for Solidarity” Project, which empowers him to travel the World over pursuing his dreams as a Brazilian, singing American Classics while spreading a message of hope and happiness and delivering it to those who need it the most.
2015 NOMINATION PROCESS
The nomination process for 2015 American Dream Award began on March of 2015. There are three (3) categories to the awards that are open to the public for nomination and one category, Nonprofit of the year, which is select by Tribuna's staff.
The awards that are open to the public for nomination are:
• American Dream Person of the Year Award – 1 person will be selected. Nominees must be 18 years or older who is an immigrant living in the Fairfield County Area, who faced many challenges along their journey to achieve their American Dream.
• American Dream Scholarship Award – 3 people will be selected. Nominees must be 16 years or older who is an immigrant or a child of immigrants living in the Fairfield County Area, who faced many challenges along their journey to achieve their American Dream.
• American Dream Veteran’s Award – 1 person will be selected. Nominees must be 17 years or older who is an immigrant serving in the Military, and who made the commitment to defend our country even before becoming an American citizen, and faced many challenges along their journey to achieve their American Dream.
Ten finalists will be selected and will receive 2 tickets to attend the gala. Five winners will receive awards ranging from $2,000-$3,000, the American Dream Awards statue, and will have their names permanently displayed on a plaque in Danbury City Hall honoring Tribuna’s American Dream Awards.