In 1963, the Gaviña family were Cuban émigrés and new to California. They had fled their homeland’s revolution and left behind a coffee growing and roasting enterprise. Then an opportunity presented itself: They bought a coffee roaster for $500.
Today, F. Gaviña & Sons, in Vernon, Calif., produces more than 40 million lbs. of coffee a year. Producers of specialty and gourmet coffees, including Don Francisco’s Coffee Family Reserve, the company supplies coffee to more than 3,000 McDonald’s outlets in the western United States.
As the family rebuilt their business, says CEO Pedro Gaviña, it also remained committed to education for their children and their community. Three members of the next generation — Peter ’02, Michael ’07 and Jennifer ’10 — graduated from LMU. And the company provides free English language classes for their employees and education about the coffee business. They call it Gaviña University.
“Like LMU, we put a big emphasis on educating the younger generation,” says Pedro Gaviña. “We have an opportunity to help young people get an education. I think children have a right to that.”