Karen Fox, President of the Gail Borden Public Library District Foundation, is happy to announce that Julio César Valdez has joined the Foundation.

"We are happy to welcome Julio to the Gail Borden Foundation. With his work and leadership in this community, we know our Foundation's projects will benefit immensely," said Fox. "Right now, the Foundation is looking forward to the Day of the Dead Race, Festival and subsequent Olmec exhibit. We welcome Julio's insight and assistance."

This Saturday, Valdez will be introducing the Mexican folkloric dancers at the 2 pm Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Main Library.

"I have loved libraries my whole life, including the time when I worked at Gail Borden Public Library during my youth," said Valdez. "I am blessed in life and I'd like to pay it forward by serving on the Gail Borden Library Foundation."

An Elgin native, Judge Valdez was selected to become a Kane County associate judge in 2019 and he has since been elevated by the Supreme Court of Illinois to serve as a Circuit Judge.

An Elgin Area Leadership Academy graduate, Valdez has been a member of Elgin’s Planning and Zoning Commission, served on the planning committee of Elgin’s Fiesta Salsa with Ruth Munson which received State recognition, a member of the Elgin Hispanic Network, a past Board member for Centro de informacion and a current board member of Elgin Community Bikes. He also serves as a member of the Kane County Justice System’s Strategic Planning Committee.

Valdez states that his greatest achievement is marrying his wife, Maria, and his most important title is that of Papá to his sons, Emiliano and Salvador.

The Gail Borden Public Library District Foundation celebrates the library’s quest to enhance literacy in the community and to sustain a world-class library district that supports reading initiatives, engaging exhibits that have changed lives, capital projects and more. www.gailborden.info/foundation.