Whole Enchilada Fiesta board donates $22,000 to local charities

On Monday, several people gathered at Roberto’s Restaurant in Las Cruces for a formal ending to a 34-year tradition.

In May, ABC-7 reported that the creator of The Whole Enchilada Fiesta was hanging up his apron, leaving many in the community disappointed.

Just in time for the holidays, fiesta board members decided to give back to the community that has supported the fiesta for decades.

Roberto Estrada, who created the tradition, is commonly recognized in the record books for creating the largest flat enchilada, which they’d make every year at the fiesta.

At a news conference Monday, he said choosing to stop that tradition this year was hard on him.

“When the economy went down I couldn’t, it was too much and that’s when I decided to just stop making it,” Estrada said.

So in order to give back, board members gave away $22,000 of leftover fiesta funds to 18 local charities. It is a gift that will provide for several people, like children at La Academia Dolores Huerta.

“Those different programs cost a lot of money, there’s not a lot of funding from the state for special programs so this money is some of the monies that allow us to really give kids a program that’s based on the arts,” Director of the school, Octavio Casillas said.

Estrada told those who gathered at his restaurant he’s sad to see the event go and still wants to do more.

“I want them to know that I still want to help every which way I can,” Estrada said.

While there’s been talk of the city taking over The Whole Enchilada Fiesta in the coming years, members on the the board couldn’t confirm that.