MIAMI, March 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hispanicize 2014 organizers today announced the 20 winners of the first ever Positive Impact Awards, a national program fully sponsored by 3M that recognizes outstanding Latinos who give back to their community selflessly and in big ways.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=23945
This year's list of winners feature ordinary Hispanic Americans from a variety of nationalities and industry sectors including education, science, technology, medicine, health, and the arts, among others.
"These extraordinary individuals are among the nation's many Hispanic Americans who routinely do good works for complete strangers in their communities and elsewhere," said Hispanicize CEO Manny Ruiz. "We are humbled by the amazing nominations we received and look forward to telling everyone the inspirational stories."
Vote for Positive Impact Person of the Year
Starting today, the public will have the chance to vote among the winners for Positive Impact Person of the Year. The winning nominee will be announced during the Positive Impact awards gala, which is set to take place on April 3, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Intercontinental Miami Hotel. To vote, visit: www.hispanicizeevent.com/pia
The winners of the 2014 Positive Impact Awards are:
- Henry Acosta – New Jersey
- Maysa Duarte Akbar - Connecticut
- Evelyn Alvarez – New York
- Mycah Lee Arellano - Texas
- Macedonio Arteaga - California
- Saul Arvelo – New York
- Mike de la Rocha - California
- Virginia "Viky" Garcia - Texas
- Father David Garcia - Texas
- Dr. Anthony Gonzalez – Florida
- Dr. Angelica Gutierrez - California
- Jesus "Chuy" Medrano – Colorado
- Oscar Menjivar – California
- Gaby Pacheco – Florida
- Martha Pedroso – Florida
- Cristina Ramirez – Florida
- Annette Ramos – New York
- Rodri Rodriguez – California
- Juan "Papo Swiggity" Santiago – New York
- Isela Sotelo - California
The 20 winners were chosen from among hundreds of nominations that poured in from all over the country. The final winners were selected based on the inspiration, courage, resolve and selflessness they have demonstrated in providing new opportunities for the communities in which they serve.
The Positive Impact Awards were created as homage to the late Louis Pagan, co-founder of Hispanicize and well-known social media entrepreneur, who passed away suddenly in February 2013. Louis was widely known for his kindness and commitment to giving the community a voice through his vast social media networks. In the same way, the Positive Impact Awards recognize those who contribute selflessly for the betterment of their community.
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Sponsorship and Registration Information
As of today, announced sponsors include: 3M, Toyota, Google, McDonald's, Sherwin-Williams, Crest, Burson-Marsteller, Transitions, Fox News Latino, NASDAQ's GlobeNewswire, Vme TV, Florida Blue, The Axis Agency, Sensis Agency, Textter, Balsera Communications, El Sol Newspaper, Latinum Network, BodenPR and many more consumer products, food, fashion and lifestyle, toy and travel brands who will shortly be disclosed. Media partners include Being Latino, NPR'S Latino USA, Latin Heat, Media Moves, Latin Business Today, PRODU and OVN Latino.
Sponsorship information is available by contacting sponsorship@hispanicizeevent.com or via phone at (203) 364-4779.
About Hispanicize 2014
Now in its fifth year, Hispanicize 2014 (http://www.HispanicizeEvent.com) (#Hispz14) is the iconic, largest annual event for Latino trendsetters and newsmakers in social media, journalism, advertising, PR, technology, film and music.
Co-chaired by award winning journalist Maria Hinojosa of NPR's Latino USA and Patricia Pineda, Group Vice President of the Hispanic Business Strategy Group of Toyota Motor North America, Hispanicize 2014 is expected to gather more than 1,700 of the nation's most influential Latino professionals from the industries of blogging, journalism, technology, music, marketing, film and business over four full days. Featuring U.S. Hispanic thought leaders and celebrities, the 5th anniversary edition of Hispanicize will be taking place at the InterContinental Miami hotel with several offsite events at major cultural venues.
The event is a launch pad for creative endeavors, new products, technologies, marketing campaigns, films, books and more targeting Latinos in the U.S. and/or Puerto Rico.
Hispanicize 2014, a partnership of the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA), Hispanicize and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), will be held at the InterContinental Miami hotel, April 1-4, 2014 in downtown Miami.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
