WASHINGTON, DC – The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) in partnership with PNC Bank will host its largest networking event of the year, the Hispanic Heritage Celebration, on October 1, 2015 at PNC Place. The annual event gathers over 200 regional and local businesses, corporations, nonprofits, local and federal government representatives, elected officials, and embassies to celebrate the culture and traditions of the Hispanic community.

This year, the Chamber will pay tribute to the Honorable J. Walter Tejada, Vice Chairman of the Arlington County Board, with the Legacy Award at the event. “Walter has been instrumental for the Hispanic community. Thanks to him we were able to initiate BizLaunch en Español in partnership with the Arlington Economic Development,” said Angela Franco, GWHCC President and CEO. “Through this program we have provided assistance to over 12,000 people to support them in starting and growing their business,” she added.

The GWHCC will also recognize a Hispanic business from the DC metropolitan area. GWHCC is honored to present its 2015 Chairman’s Award to El Tamarindo. “The Reyes family came to Washington, DC, like thousands of Salvadorans, in the 1980s with a vision of establishing themselves in this wonderful city,” said Alfredo Casta, GWHCC Board of Directors Chairman. “Thirty-two years later, El Tamarindo has not only been a restaurant, but a community supporter, one of the first to introduce Central American cuisine to the District, and a place where all Hispanics would feel at home,” he added.

Furthermore, the GWHCC and the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (OLA) will be announcing the mentors and mentees of their recently launched program, the DC SmallBiz Mentorship Program (DCSMP). The program will allow experienced business owners to impart their knowledge and help small businesses improve processes, customer experience, and strategy. 

For more information and to register visit gwhcc.org/hhc.

Sponsors for this year’s event are: PNC Bank, ACSI Translations, Goya, Verizon, Events DC, DC Health Link, Telemundo, Toyota, WAMU, Cascades Technologies, Bank of America, Giant,  PenFed Credit Union. 

About the GWHCC

The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a 501(C) 6 membership driven organization that supports the economic development of the Greater Washington metropolitan area by facilitating the success of Latino and other minority-owned businesses and the communities they serve through capacity building programs, B2B connections, and advocacy. For additional information visit our website www.gwhcc.org.