National Clothesline

During National Hispanic Heritage month in Arizona this past September, Phoenix drycleaner Gregory E. Torrez was honored with a prestigious local community leadership award.

Every year, Valle del Sol holds a luncheon to present its Profile of Success Hispanic Leadership Awards Celebration to recognize outstanding Latino leadership in the Valley of the Sun.

This year, 1,700 people attended the event, which honored a dozen local Latino role models, including Phoenix native Lynda Carter. The former Wonder Woman television show star earned an award for Latino Achievement in Arts & Literature.

Torrez, a longtime Western States Drycleaners & Launderers Association member (and former director) and owner of Azteca Plaza Cleaners, was singled out for the first ever Raul Yzaguirre award, which recognizes an individual for significant philanthropic contributions, support for non-profit organizations and community development.

A profile article on Valle del Sol’s web site, www.valledelsol.com, outlined the reasons for Torrez’s nomination: “With a philosophy of taking the resources you have earned, as well as the ones given to you, and giving back to the community, Gregory E. Torrez believes in taking philanthropy, community development and lifting charitable organizations to new heights.”

In the article, Torrez noted that such lessons were handed down by his late parents, Kay Gasink-Torrez and Adolfo L. Torrez.

He has certainly learned them well. For over 25 years, he has dedicated his life to passionately and actively giving back to his community. Torrez spends about 75% of his week working on activities that assist charities.

Such a work ethic may explain why he has succeeded in so many business ventures without any collegiate business degrees.

Torrez is a founding partner in the ShuttlePort and Joint Ventures of Paradies-Phoenix, which is comprised of a number of stores at the city’s Sky Harbor International Airport.

He also continues to participate actively in his family business, Azteca Wedding Plaza, which was founded by his parents in the mid-1940s.

In his spare time, Torrez serves on the Attorney General’s Latino Community Justice Council, the Cesar E. Chávez Foundation of Arizona Advisory Board, and the Governor’s Latino Advisory Community Council.

Currently, he is the immediate past chair of the Support Sky Harbor Coalition.

Torrez is a strong advocate for supporting organizations that perform what he refers to as “Human Asset Development.”

In that capacity, he provides philanthropic assistance to: ASU and U of A’s joint biomedical campus; Maricopa Community Colleges; Native American Connections; Phoenix Boys Choir; the Teach for America Program; Ronald McDonald Charities; Developing Afghanistan’s Women Entrepreneurs Program; United Phoenix Firefighters Association; Family Advocacy Center, Friendly House; and Herrera School.

He also enjoys providing support for several high schools, including his own alma mater, St. Mary’s. Additionally, he works with Bourgade, Xavier, and Brophy high schools.