Ruben Suarez turned 11 years old on the U.S. border, as his family emigrated from Mexico in search of a better life. But being the new kid in school who didn’t speak English was tough.

“It was overwhelming and frustrating, not knowing what people were saying,” Ruben said. “My mom went only to middle school, and my dad to second grade. They had expectations for me, but didn’t know how to get me there.”

Enter the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, headquartered in Cary.

“An investment in Hispanic students equals an investment in North Carolina,” said Society founder Marco Zarate, a native of Mexico who holds degrees in chemical and industrial engineering.

“In the next 10 years, 60 percent of North Carolina’s jobs will require post-secondary education. Education is the pipeline that allows our community to build skills as part of the state’s workforce, and future professionals.”

You can help, by attending the 2017 Latino Education Celebration on Oct. 13 at MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, from 7 to 11 p.m.

This evening of dancing, entertainment and a silent auction will benefit the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals’ educational programs, and honor the students and those who serve them.

Programs of the NCSHP are in place at Cary High and other area schools and provide bilingual, bicultural support for students and their parents, to help Hispanic students attain academic success.

“We’ve seen a lot of improvement in the achievement of Hispanic students in public schools, in the support and awareness from parents on the importance of education, and schools embracing more this segment of our population,” said Zarate.

“They come with hope about their future,” he said. “We can see the fruits of our efforts, and it is tremendously rewarding.”

Tickets for the Latino Education Celebration are $60 and include dinner & two cash-bar tickets. For more information, see thencshp.org.