22nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and Presenting Sponsor  Sponsor ExxonMobil will present the 22nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards on Capitol Hill on September 29, 2009, as six Latino leaders in various categories will be celebrated for their achievements in their field and in the community.  A dynamic stage production will feature top Latino artist performing and Members of Congress co-presenting the awards.   The 2009 Hispanic Heritage Honorees include:  Rock Superstars Maná presented with the first “Green” Award        Artist Romero Britto presented with the Humanitarian Award         Animation Figure Dora the Explorer with the Education Award Boxer Oscar de la Hoya with the Sports Award Singer Olga Tañon with the Arts Award Mathematician and Professor Richard A. Tapia with the Math and Science Award Senator Robert Menendez with the Leadership Award  In addition, National Recipients of the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards will take their place onstage as young leaders.  A dynamic stage production will feature performances by Olga Tañon, Chichi Peralta, Don Omar, Cristian Castro, and La Quinta Estación.   “We are privileged to pay tribute to the 2009 Honorees who will certainly carry on the great tradition of past Honorees,” said HHF Chairman Dr. Pedro Jose Greer, Jr., who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom last month and the Hispanic Heritage Award for Leadership in the nineties.  “The Honorees represent the tremendous contributions Latinos make in America and the Youth Awardees the great promise of what’s to come.  The Honorees serve as role models not only for Latinos but for all Americans. And we are grateful to ExxonMobil for their support not only for the Hispanic Heritage Awards but organization’s mission.”  The Hispanic Heritage Awards were created in 1987 by the Ronald Reagan and the White House to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month. The Hispanic Heritage Awards will take place at the Senate Russell Building, Russell Caucus Room, Washington, DC, on Capitol Hill.    A festive reception hosted by Heineken will take place for the invited guests immediately following the Hispanic Heritage Awards ceremony at the new Hogates at the Washington Waterfront featuring Mexican cuisine prepared by America’s Top Chef Winner Rick Bayless.   Current sponsors include ExxonMobil, Heineken, Viacom, Nickelodeon, US Army, Amgen, Time Warner, US Navy, UPS, Hewlett-Packard, PhRMA and The Washington Hispanic among others. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Hispanic Heritage Awards.  Contact: Maria Esmeralda Paguaga, mariaesmeralda@HispanicHeritage.org