Locals Mambo to Raise Funds for ESL Education

Hundreds mambo danced at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham on Thursday to raise funds for a group that aims to teach English to residents of MetroWest. 

The ESL fund has hosted the Latin Ball for 11 years as its primary fundraiser. Christine Tibor, director of  Framingham Adult ESL, said she hopes the event will raise as much as $50,000. 

The ESL fund helps provide education in English to nearly 700 students per year. More than 400 are on the waiting list, Tibor said. 

During the event, instructors presented mambo classes to the 300 attendees as a part of the night's Latin theme. Vendors sold fedora-style hats, cigars and raffle tickets to items donated by local vendors. 

"The country is a melting pot and if we want to exchange our culture and interact we all need to speak the same language," Tibor said.