Save the date!
2025 Honored Citizen,
Thursday, October 16
The Nines Hotel Ballroom
Downtown Portland
Our Signature Celebration of the Year
Every year, the broader architecture community comes together for one night to honor the contributions of a member of our community and support the mission of the Architecture Foundation of Oregon. AFO Honored Citizens are celebrated for their significant contributions to Oregon’s designed environment. Chosen by a committee of peers from across the field, the Honored Citizen award is one of the most prestigious in the state.
Since 1993, AFO has honored public officials, community advocates, statewide organizations, philanthropists, developers, artists, architects and more. The annual celebration serves as AFO’s signature event.
2025 Honored Citizen, Ernesto Fonseca
Ernesto Fonseca has empowered communities and built meaningful public and private partnerships across the state of Oregon through his role as CEO of Hacienda CDC.
Ernesto joined Hacienda as CEO in April 2017, bringing his passion for community development and a belief in the power of connecting families to opportunity. Ernesto’s own story reflects the potential that can be unleashed by investing in all our community members. Raised in a low income but loving family in central Mexico, Ernesto watched his parents take advantage of educational opportunities and their own initiative to build careers in construction and nursing. They passed on their values of hard work and education to their children, and Ernesto embraced those values to gain a foothold in this country by initially working in kitchens and restaurants as he pursued his educational goals, culminating with a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in Environmental Design and Planning.
During his time in Phoenix, he spearheaded initiatives to assess the health impacts of community development including gentrification, access to public transportation, and affordable housing, and helped to create the Stardust Center for Affordable Homes & the Family.
Ernesto believes it is Hacienda’s job to help all families access the critical ingredients they need to achieve their goals: a stable, affordable home, a healthy family life that allows youth to learn and grow, opportunities for economic success, and access to affordable health care and healthy neighborhoods. He believes in the power of social enterprise to bring increased investment into breaking the cycle of poverty. He joined Hacienda because he shares the same values and experiences with this community and is eager to empower families to flourish like his own has.
Ernesto is infused in impactful community work through his current board service with the Oregon Community Foundation and the iSector, as well as past board service with the Prosperity Agenda, the Energy Trust of Oregon, Housing Oregon, and more. He is also one of the Gubernatorial Appointees for Governor Tina Kotek’s Housing Production Advisory Council, a council of experts charged with developing an action plan to meet ambitious housing construction goals. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work in Oregon, Arizona, Mexico, and beyond.
Ernesto’s own story reflects the potential that can be unleashed by investing in our communities. Ernesto has two kids, Emma, 19, and Emiliano, 17. Ernesto enjoys hiking, camping with his wife Susan and kids, photography, carpentry, and politics.
2025 Honored Citizen
Thursday, October 16
5pm Reception | 6:30pm Dinner
The Nines Hotel Ballroom, Downtown Portland
Sponsorship Opportunities
AFO works directly with sponsors to develop a mutually rewarding partnership. Our reputation for commitment to Oregon’s built environment, our constituency of a wide range of industry citizens and our strong relationship with other sponsors and donors make an association with AFO highly rewarding for our sponsors. Sponsorships are available at a variety of levels to fit budgetary and marketing requirements.
2024 Sponsors
Event Sponsor
$10,000
- Logo below event title on invitation, newspaper ads, event programs and projections, and media releases
- Two seats at the President’s Table
- Two complimentary tables (up to 16 guests) with signage, in prime location
- Invitation for all guests to private pre-dinner Patron Reception with the Honored Citizen
- Short speaking opportunity at the Patron Reception
- Premium wine or champagne service at dinner
- Complimentary parking for all guests
- Half page ad in the event program
- Listing in newspaper “thank you” ad
- Year-long presence on AFO Honored Citizen web page
- Social media recognition on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
Sustaining Sponsor
$8,000
- Corporate/firm name and/or logo below event title on invitation, newspaper ads, event programs and projections, and media releases
- One and a half complimentary tables (up to 12 guests) with signage, in prime location
- Invitation for all guests to private pre-dinner Patron Reception with the Honored Citizen
- Complimentary parking for 3 vehicles
- Quarter page ad in the event program
- Listing in newspaper “thank you” ad
- Year-long presence on AFO Honored Citizen web page
- Social media recognition on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
Supporting Sponsor
$6,000
- Corporate/firm name and/or logo on invitation, newspaper ads, event programs and projections, and media releases
- One complimentary table (up to 8 guests) with signage, in prime location
- Invitation for 4 guests to private pre-dinner Patron Reception with the Honored Citizen
- Complimentary parking for 2 vehicles
- Listing in newspaper “thank you” ad
- Year-long presence on AFO Honored Citizen web page
- Social media recognition on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
Table Sponsor
$3,500 ($3,000 for AFO members of $1,000 or more)
- One guest table (up to 8 seats)
- Table signage at event
- Listing in event program and on projection screens
- Listing in newspaper “thank you” ad
- Social media recognition on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
Half Table Sponsor
$1,750 ($1,500 for AFO members of $500 or more)
- One half guest table (up to 4 seats)
- Table signage at event
- Listing in event program and on projection screens
- Listing in newspaper “thank you” ad
Questions?
Contact:
Susan Myers
Director of Operations
susan@af-oregon.org
503-542-3824
Member Spotlight
“I enjoy the event because of the diversity of people it attracts – I see people there that I don’t see anywhere else… It’s a great cross-section, and I think it leads to introductions and conversations that benefit our community that wouldn’t happen elsewhere.”