Carmen Garcia, Eduardo Nunez, Paula Mendoza

Paula Mendoza, Rosa Santana, Carmen Garcia

Women of Distinction Luncheon presented by El Heraldo de Broward and Viva Broward

Floyd Green, Ginny Jordan, Marilda Gandara, Sandy Lozano, Carlos Reyes, and Grisell Granado during the presentation of a check for $20,000 to the Light of the World Clinic on behalf of the Aetna Foundation

On August 19th, the fourth annual Hispanic Women of Distinction charity awards luncheon kicked off the nation’s Hispanic Heritage Month events, welcoming over 450 guests to honor 12 outstanding Latinas. The event, held at Design Center for the Americas in Dania Beach, Florida, raised close to $10,000 for the March of Dimes and over $20,000 for Light of the World Clinic. The Honorees included: Perla Lichi, Carmen Ayala, Dr. Monica Pedemonte, Martha Galindo, Fatima Perez, Ximena Uribe, Catalina Avalos, Malena Mendez, Syndia Nazario-Cardona, Ana Gomez-Mallada, Cynthia Guerra, and Susie Levan.

Elaine Vasquez (fourth from left) with media partners Nohemi Alarcon and Arly Alfaro are joined by Aetna executives

Event co-producer Jessica Schendell, with honorees: Perla Lichi, Carmen Ayala, Dr. Monica Pedemonte, Martha Galindo, Fatima Perez, Ximena Uribe,event co-producer Elaine Vasquez, (FRONT) Catalina Avalos, Malena Mendez, Syndia Nazario-Cardona, Ana Gomez-Mallada, Cynthia Guerra, and Susie Levan.

U.S. Army:
Generaciones

Part of many celebrations of Hispanic participation during Hispanic Heritage Month, in September the U.S. Army launched a month-long series of events titled “Generaciones: Centuries of Answering Our Nation’s Call to Duty,” honoring the heroic military achievements of Latinos from the past and present. The series kicked off on Sept. 13 with a gala reception in Washington, D.C., whose guests included Hispanic war veterans, senior military leaders, and general officers from all armed services, as well as members of congress, Hispanic civic leaders and educators, and Hispanic recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award.

Surgeon General Richard Carmona and D.C.-area U.S. Army troops

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO)

U.S. Representative John Salazar (D-CO)

Al Zapanta and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Freddie Valenzuela

Hispanic Women’s Corporation

Sept. 15 and 16 marked the Hispanic Women’s Corporation’s 20th National Hispanic Women’s Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., the largest gathering of Latinas in the country with over 2,000 participants. This year’s conference, themed “Latina Power: Legacies in Leadership,” included a Youth Leadership Conference that brought together approximately 400 area students, and workshops on a range of topics, including wealth building, negotiation power, and domestic-violence prevention. The conference also featured events such as a cooking-light demonstration and an automotive-tips session, as well as a Latina art exhibit and a résumé review station.

Youth leadership Institute attendees

Jessica Mendoza and Sonja Mazon Rubalcava

A conference attendee enjoys  the General Motors exhibit

Grito de Independencia  ceremony

Hispanic Women’s Corporate College Scholars

CHCI:
Latinas of Excellence

On Sept. 12 and 13, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), LATINA Style Magazine, Lifetime Television, and Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis presented the 2005 Latinas of Excellence Awards as part of the CHCI’s 2005 Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. Awards were given in tribute to the Latina leaders who pave the way for future generations.

Award recipients Suzie Canales, Lt. Col. Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, Dr. Elena Rios, and Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis