NFL, HHF & Bud Light:Leadership Awards

The NFL and Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) have partnered for the second annual NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards during the 2012 celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The awards recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each of the 32 NFL markets.

Each award recipient will be recognized in-stadium at a Hispanic Heritage game in their local market.

One award recipient will be selected from the 32 by the NFL and HHF to be recognized during HHF’s prestigious 26th Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The Hispanic Heritage Awards were created by the White House to honor notable Latinos who have distinguished themselves in various fields and made an impact on America and globally. The Awards are considered the highest honor by Hispanics for Hispanics in America and serve to kick off HHF’s year-round leadership programs, which are focused on youth leadership to meet America’s priorities.

Each of the 32 award recipients will select an organization of their choice that serves the local Hispanic community to receive a $3,000 donation.

“Together with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, we are proud to continue the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership awards after a successful inaugural year in 2011,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL vice president of fan strategy and marketing. “We are excited to recognize individuals across all 32 team markets that make a difference in their local Hispanic community.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the NFL to honor Hispanic leaders who are making an impact on communities all over America,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF. “It is important to highlight their leadership not only in the traditional Latino regions but in recently-growing areas as well. The NFL made sure that beyond the recognition there was an investment in the community their donations to nonprofits. There is no better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than to make a difference in the Latino community.”

The NFL will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month during Week 3 of the 2012 season. A national spotlight will be shined on the NFL’s celebration during Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football. The New York Giants take on the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, September 20, the New England Patriots face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, September 23 and the Green Bay Packers take on the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, September 24.

About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation:

Since 1987, the award-winning non-profit Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) has inspired, identified, prepared and positioned Latino leaders in the classroom, community and workforce. Their call to action is to “help a Latino help a hundred more.” Please visit www.HispanicHeritage.org for more information.

The 2012 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards recipients are:

• Arizona Cardinals – Ruben Gallego: State Representative for Legislative District 16 in Arizona.
• Atlanta Falcons – Luis Aguilar: Commissioner at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.
• Baltimore Ravens – Jose Orlando Ruiz: Founder of Educational Based Latino Outreach.
• Buffalo Bills – Dr. Francisco Vasquez: President & CEO of Child and Family Services Inc.
• Carolina Panthers – Pilar Rocha-Goldberg: President & CEO of El Centro Hispano.
• Chicago Bears – Ricardo Estrada: President & CEO of Metropolitan Family Services.
• Cincinnati Bengals – Alfonso Cornejo: President of AC & Consulting Associates.
• Cleveland Browns – Marc Sanchez: Partner with Frantz Ward.
• Dallas Cowboys – Luis Spinola: President & CEO of Azteca Omega.
• Denver Broncos – Dan Sandos: President of Hispanic Annual Salute.
• Detroit Lions – Angela Reyes: Executive Director of Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation.
• Green Bay Packers – Virgilio Rodriguez: Executive Director of the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee.
• Houston Texans – Dr. Laura Murillo: President & CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Indianapolis Colts – Rafael Sanchez: Partner with Bingham-Greenbaum Doll.
• Jacksonville Jaguars – Dr. Patricia Solo-Josephson: Pediatrician at Beaches Family Health Center.
• Kansas City Chiefs – Ramon Murguia: Owner of Murguia Law Firm.
• Miami Dolphins – Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
• Minnesota Vikings: Patti Totozintle: CEO of Casa de Esperanza.
• New England Patriots – Alexandra Oliver-Davila: Executive Director of Sociedad Latina.
• New Orleans Saints – Kathia Duran: Executive Director of Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana.
• New York Giants – Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez: Executive Vice President for Multicultural Markets & Engagement at AARP.
• New York Jets – Shirley Rodriguez-Remenski: President of 100 Hispanic Women.
• Oakland Raiders – Olga Talamante: Executive Director of Chicana Latina Foundation.
• Philadelphia Eagles – Cynthia Figueroa: President & CEO of Congreso de Latinos Unidos.
• Pittsburgh Steelers – Ric Perez: President & COO of Westinghouse Electric.
• St. Louis Rams – Anthony Gonzalez-Angel: Founder of Gonzalez Companies.
• San Diego Chargers – Guadalupe Coronoa: System-wide Director of Latino Achievement Initiative for Alliant International University.
• San Francisco 49ers – Susie M. Rivera: Director of High Touch Programs at Fresh Lifelines for Youth.
• Seattle Seahawks – Martitha May: Executive Director at Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Lilly Gonzalez: VP and GM of WVEA Univision and WFTT Telefutura Tampa Bay.
• Tennessee Titans – Mercedes Almaraz: Conexion Americas.
• Washington Redskins – Maria Gomez: President & CEO of Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care.