Making a Difference

John Soto — who as a young man was too poor to attend college after emigrating to the United States from Puerto Rico — was recently honored with the 2009 Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Soto, a member of the Southern Connecticut State University Foundation’s board of directors, was recognized for his exemplary life and contributions to the community. In 1970, he founded Space-Craft Manufacturing, an award-winning manufacturer of aircraft engine and airframe components in New Haven serving the U.S. military, General Electric andPratt and Whitney.

Among Soto’s many philanthropic activities was the establishment of the Gladys and John Soto Endowed Scholarship Fund at Southern to help young people achieve a college education. He has also established scholarship funds for Latino students and donated resources to Youth at Risk, Junior Achievement and New Haven’s Latino Youth Development Program.

“Every young person needs somebody who makes a difference in their life,” said Soto. “One of the greatest things in life is to help another — especially our young people.”