NFL, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Nationwide,Team for Seventh Annual NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards Presented by Nationwide

The National Football League and its teams will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of special events during Hispanic Heritage Month.
 
The NFL, Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and Nationwide, official sponsor of the NFL, have partnered for the seventh annual NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards.  The awards recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market. 


Each award recipient will be recognized at a game or event in their local NFL market.  With support from Nationwide, each recipient will select an organization of their choice that serves the local Hispanic community to receive a $2,000 donation.
 
Nationwide’s partnership with the NFL and support of the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards is the latest in a series of rich and authentic relationships with the Hispanic community. The Columbus-based insurance and financial services company already has partnerships with Latina Style, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Latino Professionals For America, and Prospanica. Nationwide also provides resources, support and service to Hispanic consumers and business owners across the country. The sponsorship of the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards aligns with Nationwide’s goal of partnering with organizations that share the company’s values of improving the lives of others and giving back to the community.
 
“We are excited to partner with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Nationwide to celebrate the contributions of 32 individuals who are making an impact in their communities,” said Jaime Weston, NFL Senior Vice President of Marketing.  “Each recipient is a role model and local hero. We appreciate the time and dedication each leader has devoted to making a difference.”
 
“We are thrilled to partner with the NFL and Nationwide to honor Hispanic leaders who are making an impact on communities all over America,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “It is important to highlight their leadership not only in the traditional Latino regions, but in recent-growing areas as well. Together with the NFL and Nationwide, we made sure that beyond the recognition there is an investment in local nonprofits. There is no better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than to make a difference in the Latino community year round.”
 
“Nationwide is excited to be partnering with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the National Football League to present this year’s Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards,” said Mike Boyd, Senior Vice-President of Marketing at Nationwide. “Nationwide takes pride in working with groups who share our values of improving the lives of others and giving back to the community. We look forward to recognizing the charitable efforts of Hispanic leaders in all 32 NFL markets during Hispanic Heritage Month.”
 
The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month recognition is “Feel the Orgullo.”  In Spanish, the word “orgullo” means pride.  Latino players, fans, and coaches have a strong sense of pride not only in their culture but in their team and the NFL.  During Hispanic Heritage Month, the NFL and its 32 teams will amplify the rich history, heritage and tradition of Latinos, and honor the positive impact they have had on the game and country.
 
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, fans can visit www.NFL.com/HispanicHeritage for a look at the personal stories of Hispanic players, past and present, who have left a lasting legacy on the NFL.  NFL teams will enhance the celebration with local efforts throughout the month including local community outreach in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
 
The 2017 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards recipients are:
 
TEAM
AWARD RECIPIENT

Arizona Cardinals
Catherine Miranda: Senator, Representing Arizona’s 27th District

Atlanta Falcons
Belisa Urbina: Founder & Executive Director, Ser Familia

Baltimore Ravens
Jorge Castillo: President, Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Buffalo Bills
Eunice Lewin: President, Impacto Consulting

Carolina Panthers
Rusty Price: President, Camino Community Center

Chicago Bears
Sylvia Puente: Executive Director, Latino Policy Forum

Cincinnati Bengals
Reuben Shaffer: Former Chief Diversity Officer, The Kroger Co.

Cleveland Browns
Pablo Ros: Chairman, Department of Radiology, UH Cleveland Medical Center; Professor, Radiology, CWRU School of Medicine; Radiologist-in-Chief, University Hospitals

Dallas Cowboys
Fernando J. Andrade, AIA: President & CEO, GSR Andrade Architects, Inc.

Denver Broncos
Andrés Chaparro: President and General Manager, Telemundo 25 Denver (KDEN)

Detroit Lions
Rico Razo: Campaign Manager for Mayor Duggan of Detroit

Green Bay Packers
Karen Menendez-Coller: Executive Director, Centro Hispano

Houston Texans
Tony Canales: President and General Manager, Telemundo 47 Houston (KTMD)

Indianapolis Colts
Marlene Dotson: President and CEO, Indiana Latino Institute; Founder, Latino Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

Jacksonville Jaguars
Maira Martelo: Community Mobilization Director, Jacksonville Public Education Fund

Kansas City Chiefs
Pedro Zamora: Executive Director, Hispanic Economic Development Corporation

Los Angeles Chargers
Cynthia Telles: Associate Clinical Professor, UCLA School of Medicine; Member, Board of Directors, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals

Los Angeles Rams
Fidel Vargas: CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Miami Dolphins
Cesar Conde: Chairman, NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises

Minnesota Vikings
Eloisa Echavez: Executive Director, La Oportunidad, Inc.

New England Patriots
Yvonne Garcia: Chair, Board of Directors,Association of Latino Professionals for America; Senior Vice President, Investment Manager Services, State Street Corporation

New Orleans Saints
Peggy Mendoza: Vice President & Executive Director, City Year New Orleans

New York Giants
Awilda Diaz-Cruz: Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate

New York Jets
Elsa Candelario: Executive Director, Hispanic Family Center of Southern New Jersey

Oakland Raiders
Jacqueline Martinez Garcel: CEO, Latino Community Foundation

Philadelphia Eagles
Myrna Soto: Senior Vice President, Global Chief Information Security Officer, The Comcast Corporation

Pittsburgh Steelers
Carmen Malloy: Customer Relations Specialist, People’s Gas; President, Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 

San Francisco 49ers
Darrell Cortez: Founder/Executive Director, Shop with a Cop Foundation of Silicon Valley

Seattle Seahawks
Lourdes E. Alvarado Ramos: Director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jennifer Whelihan: Economic Development Manager, Hillsborough County

Tennessee Titans
Juan Canedo: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance

Washington Redskins
Maria Fernanda Borja: President & CEO, Latino Student Fund