Pete "Big Dog" C. Garcia, Jr., 72, passed away on May 3, 2017. Pete volunteered for the US Army in 1962, serving in Germany. He earned a BA in Elementary Education from ASU in 1972. After graduation he began working with the Job Corps and then left to start a service program for runaway youths with the City of Phoenix, before joining Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC). Pete went to Washington DC in 1980 to earn a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, in conjunction with the US Department of Health & Human Services. After receiving his masters he returned to Phoenix as the President & CEO of Valle del Sol, a drug addiction rehabilitation organization. Pete rejoined CPLC in 1984 as President & CEO then retired after 24 years as its head. In 2008 CPLC was named as the second largest Hispanic Non-Profit in the US by Hispanic Business Magazine. During this time Pete received numerous awards and recognition including the Caesar E Chavez Leadership Institute legacy award, Pioneer in Excellence by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and "One of the Valley's Most Influential People" by the Business Journal of Phoenix. In retirement he established the Victoria Foundation (named in honor of his mother) which focused on creating educational opportunities for underserved students. From 2008-2017 Pete raised more than $4Million to enable students to attend ASU, UofA, NAU, GCU, Maricopa Community Colleges, and several out of state schools. The Foundation offered scholarships to 80 community college students, 60 university students, and four medical school students. Pete is survived by his wife Sarah, a brother, a sister, three children and five grandchildren. A Rosary will be said on May 17 at 7pm at Rest Haven Mortuary, 4310 E Southern Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85042. A Catholic memorial mass will be held onThursday, May 18, 2017, at 10AM at St. Timothy's Catholic Church, 1730 W Guadalupe Rd Mesa, AZ 85202. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Victoria Foundation, 1112 E Buckeye Rd Ste B5, Phoenix, AZ 85034,(602) 253-9533.