WASHINGTON, DC – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund participated in the march for immigration reform and issued the following statement regarding the importance of participating in the 2010 Census:

“We are here, we are not leaving, and we need to be counted,” NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas told the tens of thousands gathered at the March for America on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

“A full count of the Latino community is important toward achieving the many goals we have, including comprehensive immigration reform. We can’t accomplish all we want if we don’t include everyone in the 2010 Census currently underway.”

The NALEO Educational Fund is coordinating the ya es hora ¡HAGASE CONTAR! campaign, a historic, non-partisan Latino civic participation initiative to encourage everyone to be counted in the 2010 Census. It includes a toll-free number for assistance, 877-EL CENSO (352-3676).

Campaign partner Univisión will air a half-hour Census special on Saturday March 27 at 11a eastern/10a central, which includes a “how to” session on filling out the form.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently mailed forms to 120 million households nationwide, including many to Spanish-dominant households in an effort to reach all Latinos in the decennial count.