The story behind The Jesús-Guadalupe Foundation

The story behind the Jesús-Guadalupe Foundation is truly one of love and devotion to family, hard work, and the determination of a young man to fulfill lifelong dreams inspired by his parents.  It is about giving back to the community from which we came and giving the precious gift of education to those who dare to seek it out and make difference in their communities and in this world.

When Roberto Ramirez was only eight years old, his father, Jesús, was the victim of a politically motivated assassination.  Left to fend for themselves were Guadalupe, Jesús widow and her nine children.  The Ramirez family made the painful decision to leave their native Mexico and immigrate to the United States in hope of beginning a new life.Many years later, after years of struggling, Roberto Ramirez had a little more than twenty dollars he needed to open a checking account.  With that and another one hundred dollars he borrowed from his mother, Roberto founded Tidy International, Inc. and Roberto Ramirez received their ultimate stamp of approval when they were honored with the Chicago Hispanic Business of the Year Award presented by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association.

Although Roberto does not discount the rigorous work that went into building his company, he still maintains that his motivation to succeed is fueled by his mother’s courage and the memory of this father.  Therefore in 1997, with the desire to recognize his parents’ influence in his life and wanting to give back to the community that so openly welcomed the Ramirez family and Tidy International Inc., Roberto established The Jesús Guadalupe Foundation to provide scholarships to students who have the desire and ability to succeed, but lack the financial resources to pursue their dream of higher education.

Roberto Ramirez is the CEO of Tidy International, Inc., now UPG Services, LLC a janitorial and custodial company serving commercial and institutional clients in the Chicago-Land area, CEO of UPG Communications, LLC provider of the Multifaceted and interactive concierge kiosk, the President/ Founder of The Jesús-Guadalupe Foundation and cofounder of Radio Cosmos a Spanish Language Public Radio WDCB 90.9FM HD2.