Washington, DC - The Hispanic Heritage Foundation today announced the presenters for the 2015 28^th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards Presented by Target on September 17^th at the Historic Warner Theatre and broadcast October 9th on PBS. Legendary Actress, Singer and previous Hispanic Heritage Award recipient Rita Moreno will host the program and perform.  Presenters include: Past Hispanic Heritage Award recipient and Chef José Andrés; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro; Nuestra Belleza Marisela de Montecristo; Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras Sweet; Singer Songwriter Gaby Moreno (also performing); US Representative Iliana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL); US Representative Tony Cardenas (D-CA); Ambassador Miguel Basañez; Singer Becky G (also performing); Actor JW Cortes; Secretary of Labor Tom Perez; Past Hispanic Heritage Awards recipient and Newscaster Soledad O’Brien; Actor Raul Castillo; Opera Singer Carla Dirlikov (also performing); Voto Latino President Maria Teresa Kumar; Director/Producer Carmen Marron, and Singer Lila Downs (also performing).

The 2015 Hispanic Heritage Awardees and Medallion-level sponsors are:

·       Director Robert Rodriguez for Vision, presented by Hershey’s

·       Musician Arturo Sandoval for Arts, presented by Southwest Airlines – The Official Airlines of the Hispanic Heritage Awards

·       Healthcare Provider Maria Gomez for Healthcare, presented by CVS Health

·       Singer Ana Gabriel for Legend, presented by Hilton Worldwide

·       Scientist Dr. Vladamir Alvarado for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), presented by ExxonMobil

·       The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics for Education, presented by Target

• Hall of Fame Pitcher Pedro Martinez for Sports, presented by Univision
• And Singer Becky G will receive the Inspira Award as a special recognition for serving as a role model for youth in the public eye
  

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is proud to partner with Target and all our sponsors to honor yet another visionary group of Latino leaders with the Hispanic Heritage Award and share our cultural pride, accomplishment and great promise with all of America,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO. “We are also excited about the great line up of performances led by the incomparable Rita Moreno. The evening will certainly be entertaining, meaningful and inspirational.”

Performances will include Rita Moreno, Lila Downs, Arturo Sandoval, Ana Gabriel, Gaby Moreno, and Becky G. Opera Singer Carla Dirlikov will sing the national anthem.

Additional sponsors include: Coca-Cola, EverFi, PhRMA, UPS, Karma Salon and Spa, Es Tiempo, Catholic Relief Services, FOX Audience Strategies, PwC, BBVA Compass, Time Warner Inc, Goldman Sachs, Crowell & Moring, Saber es Poder, Adelante Capital Management, Alvarado Smith, and the US Marines.

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. The Awards are unique in that celebrities take the stage with educators, innovators, community and business leaders, elected officials, among others. The Awards are supported by nearly 40 national Hispanic-serving institutions who co-host the program.  Past Honorees have included Juan Luis Guerra, Rita Moreno, Placido Domingo, Celia Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Tito Puente, Anthony Quinn, Carlos Gutierrez, Juan Marichal, Los Tigres Del Norte, Jose Feliciano, Isabel Allende, Alejandro Sanz, Oscar de la Hoya, America Ferrera, Gloria Estefan, Martin Sheen, Oscar de la Renta, Andy Garcia, Carlos Vives, Juanes, and Zoe Saldana, among many others.  

The Hispanic Heritage Awards are produced by Nouveau Productions, INGEÑUITY and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. 

The Hispanic Heritage Awards serve as a launch of HHF’s award-winning, year-round programs which inspire, identify, prepare and position Latino leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities in the STEM, finance, education, media, and innovation fields.  HHF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  For more information on the mission and work of HHF, visit www.hispanicheritage.orgFor more information on the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Awards or to request media credentials.