WHEN/WHERE: San Diego Magazine’s Latinos Making a Difference Awards took place last Thursday, October 22, 2014 at the University Club atop Symphony Towers in downtown San Diego. The evening was hosted in partnership with Univision KBNT San Diego. It is the second annual Latinos Making a Difference event.
WHAT: Three hundred of San Diego’s top Latino business leaders gathered to honor the recipients of this years Latinos Making a Difference Awards. Guests enjoyed a cooking demonstration and tasting by Chef Miguel Angel Guerrero, owner of La Querencia Baja Med. The emcee for the evening was Dr. Diane Perez, host of Despierta San Diego on Univision.
WHO: Six outstanding leaders were honored during the event’s program.
The Cross-Border Leader Award was presented to Sylvia Casas, President of Casas International Brokerage, Inc. For the past 30 years, Casas has worked tirelessly to become the Hispanic woman at the forefront of international trade on the U.S. – Mexico border.
Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Fanny Miller, President, CEO & Editor of El Latino Newspaper, the number-one Hispanic newspaper in San Diego and the largest Hispanic-owned Spanish language newspaper in California with more than 186,000 weekly readers.
Inspirational Leader of the Year was awarded to two individuals.
The first recipient was Jose Galicot Behar, President of Tijuana Innovadora. He is the visionary, creator and driving force behind Tijuana Innovadora, a two-week event and movement with the goal of enriching the San Diego-Tijuana relationship for the prosperity of citizens on both sides of the border.
The second recipient was Pilar Montoya, President, CEO and Founder of the Caminos Foundation. Through the Caminos Foundation, Latinos can receive the tools and knowledge necessary to live healthier, more productive lives and fulfill their potential.
Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Anna Jauregui-Law, an attorney with Appellate Defenders, Inc. Determined to find a way to support the advancement of Latinas in the legal profession, Jauregui-Law cofounded Latinas in the Law in 2005, an organization dedicated to providing educational forums and culturally sensitive mentoring to young Latina lawyers, law students, and legal professionals.
At the end of the evening, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to David Valladolid who has been at the helm of the Parent Institute for Quality Education for the past 17 years. He continues to expand the free programming under PIQE. Since the inception of the signature program in 1987, more than 585,000 parents have graduated. Valladolid is also a sixth-generation Californian and a Vietnam combat veteran (1968-69), twice wounded and the recipient of the Purple Heart.
The evening was a true celebration of all of the award finalists and winners and their contributions to our local community. A portion of proceeds from the event was donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County.
FULL LIST OF NOMINEES AND EVENT INFO: http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/latinos
PHOTOS & MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Rea, Marketing Director, [email protected] or 619.744.0523
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San Diego Magazine names the 2014 Latinos Making a Difference award recipients
2014 Latinos Making a Difference award recipients | Photo by E3 Photography Eddie Garcia III