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Jesus R. Hernandez grew up in the stockyards of Kansas City, Missouri. He worked in a meat packinghouse with his father and during the summer months father and son were migrant farm workers. Jesus Hernandez was a WWII veteran who earned the Purple Heart, and Bronze Star. He came back from the war, graduated college, and put himself through law school while Jesus and his wife Fermina raised seven children.
Jesus’ desire to get his family out of poverty through a good education and hard work inspired his children. His deep commitment to his faith, Catholicism, and his desire to see other Hispanics pursue their faith has inspired Phillip and Megan Hernandez to be successful and create a memorial in honor of their parents.
Phillip T. & Megan Hernandez both grew up in Kansas City Missouri; they married and moved to Chicago. Then moved again to Iowa. Phillip received his Bachelor of Administration from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1982. He earned the University Scholar Award for being top in his class. Phillip was hired on with Enterprise Rent A Car in 1978 washing cars. He went fulltime with company in 1982 and is now Vice President / General Manager. Phillip is involved in many community activities he coaches Dads Club Soccer, is a Board Member of Gilda’s Club: Vice President – Governance, and in the United Way Leadership Circle.
Both Megan and Phillip have always been inspired by their parent’s dedication to their faith. They also believe in a faith-based education for all children who desire it. Megan and Phillip believe the Catholic schools located in local neighborhoods not only benefit working families, but the community at large. They believe with neighborhood parents involved in parish schools, neighborhoods are less likely to be taken over by drugs, crime, and blight. By establishing a fund to help unite the parish schools of the diocese, each child gets an opportunity to learn in a faith based environment and not have to leave familiar, safe surroundings. Through their charitable giving Phillip and Megan want to try to give the same level of quality education and great teachers to all students in every K-8th grade parish school building. The Hernandez’s believe kids have to go enough places like daycare, after school programs, all day schools; thus keeping something stable in their lives makes sense. Phillip and Megan Hernandez believe miracles can overcome what may seem impossible to the human eye.
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