Disney Pixars “Coco” star Anthony Gonzalez & Youth Awardees Honored on Capitol Hill

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), sponsors, Members of Congress, community and business leaders and national Latino leaders honored Disney/Pixar’s “Coco” star Anthony Gonzalez with the Inspira Award for serving as a source of inspiration for youth. 7 National Youth Awardees were honored in their respective categories and a parent was surprised with the National Parent Award presented by Pearson at our 19^th National Youth Awards on Capitol Hill at the Senate Dirksen Building yesterday! Singer and actress Catie Waters performed a special tribute of America the Beautiful. 

“Thank you HHF for the honor and for all that you do to promote cultural pride and encouragement in our Latino Community, classrooms and workforce. It’s an incredible honor to receive the Inspira Award! Thank you for inspiring me! A community is the heart of all of us, where we belong together as a result, our love for each other will live on forever in every beat of my proud corazón! I want to express my gratitude to HHF and to all of you that have been helping our nation,” said Anthony. 

National Youth Awardees included: Business & Entrepreneurship, presented by BBVA Compass – Yanik Ariste, Community Service, presented by Colgate-Palmolive Company – Ryan James Solis, Education, presented by Southwest Airlines – Adriana Marie Rosario, Engineering & Mathematics – Luis Gonzales, Healthcare & Science, presented by CVS Health – Isabella Lorence.

Other Awardees included, Media & Entertainment, presented by NBC Universal | Telemundo – Luna Rain Garcia,  Technology, presented by Google – Catalina Rafaela Sanchez- Maes, and the Parent Award, presented by Pearson was honored to Cynthia Solis, mother to our National Community Service Youth Awardee, Ryan James Solis.

“Words cannot express how honored I felt giving Anthony Gonzalez HHF’s Inspira Award. He’s truly an inspiration, a leader and a role model to kids and adults all over America and the world, including me,” said Congressman Tony Cardenas, who presented Anthony with the Inspira Award. 

Congressman Joaquin Castro also was in attendance and met with our National Youth Awardees. National Education Youth Awardee, Adriana Marie Rosario met with Senator Johnny Isakson and National Technology Youth Awardee, Catalina Rafaela Sanchez Maes met with Senator Martin Heinrich and Senator Tom Udall before heading to the ceremony!

Our National Youth Awardees were selected from more than 200 Regional Awardees and more than 10,000 applicants.  Awardees were chosen for their leadership in the classroom and community, receiving this national honor at our nation’s capitol in Washington, DC.

Our Awardees were flown out to Washington, DC for this special celebration and received personalized styling from Macy’s the day before the ceremony. Following the ceremony, HHF’s President & CEO, Antonio Tijerino, Inspira Awardee, Anthony Gonzalez, National Youth Awardees and HHF team attended the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) luncheon!

Thank you to all of our sponsors including BBVA Compass, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Southwest Airlines, CVS Health, NBC Universal, Telemundo, Google and Pearson for supporting our National Youth Awardees! Additional sponsors include NASCAR, IndieDesk, Macy’s, Crowell & Moring, UPS, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), STEM Connector, YWCA, The Raben Group, Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino and Es Tiempo.