WASHINGTON, DC – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) today announced the 27^th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards will take place on September 18, 2014, at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. The 2014 Hispanic Heritage Award Honorees will be announced by mid-August.  The Awards will once again celebrate Hispanic cultural pride, contribution, and accomplishment (for a one-minute video visit www.TheHispanicHeritageAwards.com). Sponsors will be announced in mid-August (Sponsorship opportunities are still available: contact Santiago Amieva at Santiago@HispanicHeritage.org for information).

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is proud to honor yet another inspiring group of Latino leaders with our prestigious Hispanic Heritage Award,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of HHF. “The Hispanic community has made significant contributions throughout history, and we are proud to recognize that impact. Beyond celebrating our past success, we are focused on the future. Now more than ever, Latinos will play a vital role in moving America forward.”  

The Hispanic Heritage Awards were established in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in America. Since that time, the Hispanic Heritage Awards are considered among the highest honors for Hispanics by Hispanics. Categories for the 2014 Awards will include Music, Vision, Legend, Sports, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Leadership, Education (hosted by Target), and Inspira.  Top Latino performers and personalities will pay tribute to the Honorees from the stage. 

The Awards are unique in that celebrities take the stage along with educators, innovators, community and business leaders, elected officials, and others. The Awards are supported by nearly 40 national Hispanic-serving institutions who co-host the program.

Past Honorees include: Alejandro Sanz, Ricky Martin, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Placido Domingo, Isabel Allende, Juan Luis Guerra, US Reps Ileana Ros Lehtinen and Xavier Becerra, Oscar de la Hoya, Mana, Rosario Dawson, Los Tigres Del Norte, America Ferrera, Olga Tañon, Juanes, Eva Longoria, and Rita Moreno, to name a few. Performers and presenters will be announced in mid-August.

The Awards serve as a launch of HHF’s year-round award-winning programs which inspire, identify, prepare and position Latino leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities.  HHF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information on the year-round, high-impact programs and work of HHF, including the Hispanic Heritage Awards, visit www.hispanicheritage.org.