The Stars Come Out for
CHCI's 32nd Annual Awards Gala
 The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) celebrated more than three decades of serving Latino youth at its 32nd Annual Awards Gala held Wednesday, September 16 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. This year's theme, "Latinos Leading in the Arts" honored Latino achievements and contributions to the arts.
Introduced by New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and CHCI Chair Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, President Barack Obama, joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, inspired the crowd of more than 2,200, including 62 Members of Congress, ambassadors, celebrities, dignitaries, CHCI sponsors, fellows, alumni, and guests with his speech highlighting the tremendous impact CHCI's education and leadership development programs have on the Latino community. Attendees stood intently on their feet as President Obama spoke of his commitment to Hispanic issues and diversity in his administration.
 Rep. Velázquez awarded the 2009 Chair's Lifetime Achievement Award to Puerto Rican music icon Marc Anthony for not only his landmark achievements as an entertainer, but most importantly for bringing Latin music and culture into the mainstream and bringing honor and pride to the Hispanic American community.
Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero and Soledad O'Brien received the Medallion of Excellence for Leadership and Community Service Awards. Internationally recognized as the "Father of Chicano Music," Guerrero wrote hundreds of songs during his seven-decade career including the classic bolero Nunca Jamas and Cancion Mexicana, considered the "unofficial anthem" of Mexico.
 Winner of numerous awards for her humanitarian efforts and journalistic excellence, Soledad O'Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe and has produced critically acclaimed and record-breaking documentaries on the most important stories facing the world today.
CHCI's President and CEO Esther Aguilera spoke of Hispanic American leaders who were trailblazers creating a pathway for the next generation of leaders. "Tonight we celebrate the history and contributions of a community that has toiled, sacrificed, served with distinction, and led to keep the American dream alive."
Anna Maria Arias, a 1988 CHCI Fellow, was posthumously awarded the CHCI Distinguished Alumnus Award. Editor and founder of LATINA Style, her legacy continues to live on through her magazine which recognizes inspirational Latinas and promotes economic empowerment of Latinas within the United States. 
The event, emceed by award winning radio talk show host and author Maria Hinojosa with special co-host appearance from actor John Leguizamo, concluded with a performance by internationally acclaimed urban-Latino-and-beyond collision group, Ozomatli.
Walmart was the Gala Host sponsor along with the evening's Premier Sponsors, Comcast and Toyota Motor North America, Inc. All proceeds support the Institute's scholarship awards and leadership development programs.
32nd ANNUAL AWARDS GALA SPONSORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS LUNCHEON
AWARDS GALA CHAIR's PRIVATE RECEPTION
AWARDS GALA WELCOME RECEPTION
AFTER-PARTY
PARTNER
PATRON
American Petroleum Institute, API
Amgen
California Teachers Association
Kraft Foods
Shell
The Coca-Cola Company
Time Warner, Inc.
UPS
Verizon/Verizon Wireless
VISA
DONOR
American Federation of Teachers
Arbitron, Inc.
Banco Popular
Bank of America
Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation
EVS Communications
ExxonMobil
Harrah's Entertainment
Hewlett Packard
JPMorgan Chase and Company
Marathon Oil
Microsoft Corporation
National Association of Broadcasters
National Cable Telecommunications Association
PG&E Corporation
Ridgewells
University of Phoenix
Wyeth
SUPPORTER
AFL-CIO
AFSCME
American GI Forum - National Veterans Outreach Program
American Honda Motor Company Inc.
American Income Life
American Express Company
American Red Cross
American Sugar Alliance
APS
BiPartisan Policy Center
Blackhawk Network
Burlington North Sante Fe Railroad, BNSF
BP America, Inc.
Carlos Nazario
Cash America
CBS Corporation
Chevron
Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
CHRISTUS Health
Community Financial Services Association
Davidoff, Malito, and Hutcher
DaVita
DCI Group
Democratic National Committee
DuPont
Duty Free Americas/UETA
Exelon
Express Nursing
FedEx
Ford Motor Company
Fresenius Medical Care North America
Gali Service Industries
Georgetown University
General Electric Corporation
General Mills
Goldman Sachs
Google
Goya Foods, Inc.
Greenberg Traurig
HACU
Honeywell
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
Human Rights Campaign
Hyundai
IBC Bank
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
ION Media Networks
Johnson & Johnson
Links Media
LIUNA!
Los Angeles Community College District
Logisticorp
Mary Kay, Inc.
Metropolitan Pier Exposition Authority
Metropolitan Water District Authority of Southern California
Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together
Mobile Future
Motorola
National Association of REALTORS
New York Life
Nike
Northrop Grumman
Novo Nordisk
Qwest Communications
PBS
Pepco
Perennial Strategy Group
PMI Group
PNM Resources
Raytheon Company
Safeway
SAIC
Salt River Project
SEIU
Sempra Energy
SER Jobs for National Progress
Sheet Metal Workers International Association
Sodexo
Southern Company
Stellar Partners
Tonio Burgos and Associates
Turkish Coalition of America
Tyson Foods, Inc.
United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
UnitedHealth Group
UNITE HERE!
USA Funds
IN-KIND
Continental Airlines
Sprint/Nextel
Reyes of Comedy Sponsors
CO-PRODUCER
PATRON
Anheuser-Busch Companies
DONOR
California Teachers Association
SUPPORTER
General Dynamics
Raytheon Company
Telemundo Communications Group
FRIEND
APS
CBS Corporation
Chevron
Google
IBC Bank
Motorola
Southern Company
TracFone Wireless, Inc.
Transport Workers Union
STRATEGIC MEDIA PARTNERS
| September 18, 2009
Gala Television Broadcast
September 26, 2009
9:00 pm
If you missed it, you can watch the Gala broadcast on HITN.
Check with your local cable or satellite network for channel availability.
CHCI Media Coverage
Washington Post
Red Carpet video (from YouTube)
Roll Call (CHCI Fellowship Program)
2009 CHCI Hispanic Heritage Month Sponsors
HOST
PREMIER
MILLENNIUM
PARTNERS
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
PUBLIC POLICY CONFERENCE
CHAIR'S PRIVATE RECEPTION
CHAIR'S WELCOME RECEPTION
OPENING PLENARY
OPENING LUNCHEON
MONDAY AFTERNOON PLENARY
TUESDAY MORNING PLENARY
CLOSING LUNCHEON
STEM Annoucement: Motorola Foundation and Time Warner Cable are
proud sponsors of the CHCI CIP STEM Program.
CLOSING PLENARY
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BREAKFAST
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NETWORKING RECEPTION
National Hispanic Business Group
DONOR
Dell
SEIU
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
The Home Depot
USDA
PUBLIC POLICY SUMMITS
EDUCATION
HEALTH
HOUSING
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
LABOR
CORPORATE AMERICA/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS/
ARTS
CAREERLIDER LIVE
READY TO LEAD (R2L) LUNCHEON
READY TO LEAD (R2L) WORKSHOP
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER
MillerCoors
CONFERENCE BAG
CONFERENCE LANYARD
SUPPORTER
Blackhawk Network
California Teachers Association
Cox Enterprises
Ford Motor Company
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Safeway Inc. |
