Blanca Margarita Aristizábal Westgate
Puertas Colombia Foundation was created by Blanca Margarita Aristizábal Westgate to expand educational opportunities for Colombian women in the United States.
In Honor of Javier Aristizábal
The Foundation was created in honor of her uncle, Javier Aristizábal, and his wife, Alicia Aristizabal Vasquez. Javier sponsored Blanca when she came to the United States, and together Javier and Alicia represent the family support, trust, and generosity at the heart of the Puertas story. Their example reflects the central idea behind the name “Puertas”: one opened door can change the course of a life and inspire opportunities for generations that follow.
A door opened for one person can become a door for generations.
What “Puertas” means
Puertas represents access, trust, transition, and possibility. The Foundation aspires to turn that symbol into a real network of education, mentorship, leadership, and service.
The commitment
The goal is not to create a one-time scholarship. It is to build an enduring institution that preserves the spirit of the act that inspired it: when someone receives an opportunity, she can use it to create opportunities for others.