The Henry B. Gonzalez Awards Bestowed on Dolores Huerta and Charles Garcia – San Antonio

“-The San Antonio College Public Administration Club SACPAC honored Dolores Huerta with the Henry B. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award and Charles Garcia with the Henry B. Gonzalez Public Service and Integrity Award.

The Henry B. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed on Ms. Dolores Huerta one of the most powerful and respected labor movement leaders in the country. In 1955, Huerta co-founded the Sacramento chapter of the Community Service Organization, and in 1960 co-founded the Agricultural Workers Association. Huerta then co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in 1962. While raising her 11 children she negotiated contracts with growers, lobbied Congress, organized strikes and boycotts, and spearheaded farm worker political activities that successfully led to unemployment insurance, collective bargaining rights, and immigration rights for migrant farmers. “I am honored to be associated with the late Congressman Henry Gonzalez who left a legacy of championing rights for all persons, especially Latinos,” said Huerta.

“The first recipient of the Henry B. Gonzalez Public Service and Integrity Award was former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn,” said SACPAC President Homar Arceo. “This year we honor Charles P. Garcia and his wife Cristina for their exemplary leadership promoting diversity and excellence in education for Latino children.”

Garcia is a highly decorated military officer, a Columbia Law School graduate, a former White House Fellow, and best-selling author. Under his leadership, the Sterling Hispanic Capital Markets Group, a division of vFinance, Inc., is dedicated to providing Latino entrepreneurs with much needed access to growth capital and other investment banking services. He was named by Hispanic magazine as a “2004 Entrepreneur of the Year” for leading one of the fastest growing businesses in the nation. Univision Network chose him for their series “Orgullo Hispano” Hispanic Pride for his tireless efforts to provide access to a quality education for Latino children. He serves on the President’s Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; served two terms as the only Latino on Florida’s State Board of Education; and serves as the Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Winn Dixie Stores.

“Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez’s thirty-seven years of public service embodied the ultimate example of service and integrity to the nation and he would be proud of the principled leadership of everyone being honored here today,” said Garcia.

The San Antonio College Public Administration Club-Community Service Award was bestowed on Mr. Red McCombs and his wife Charline for their steadfast commitment to community service. Red is the founder of the Red McCombs Automotive Group, a co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, a former owner of the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Vikings, and the namesake of the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Awards Ceremony that also recognized public servant and local artist Venus Prado for the Outstanding Community Partner Award, as well as SAC public administration graduate Cindy Segovia, who currently works for the Bexar County as the administrative coordinator for Judge Nelson Wolff. Additionally, three 3rd grade students from Travis Elementary received the Henry B. Gonzalez Public Service Scholarship Award to attend San Antonio College when they graduate from high school. Valeria Cruz, Isaac Gutierrez, Raven Arias

The San Antonio College Public Administration Club SACPAC is a student-run organization that since 1993 has raised tens of thousands of dollars for community service projects, assisted over 2,000 children, and contributed over 14,000 community service hours to the San Antonio area. SACPAC has also raised enough money to free 10 children that are slaves in the Southern Sudan, assisted in building a Habitat for Humanity home, and awarded numerous scholarships to deserving young people. Its goal is to expose children to college and make life a little brighter with hope for a better life, especially for Hispanic students. SACPAC recognizes leaders for their community service and honors their contributions. In August 2001 a scholarship program to honor the memory of the late Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez was established. His son, Congressman Charlie Gonzalez follows in his late father’s footsteps and the Gonzalez family graciously accepted our request to name the award after the beloved Henry B. Gonzalez. “

• Latino and White Children Might Receive Different Pain Treatment
• Tucanes de Tijuana tocaron en el Museo del GRAMMY
• Univision Announces Star-Studded Line Up for 22nd Edition of “Premio Lo Nuestro a La Música Latina” Awards
• Fears That Immigration Threatens Native U.S. Students’ Chances at College Are Unfounded
• The percentage of Hispanic students accepted in NYC’s elite public high schools dipped slightly this year
• Latino astronaut Jose Hernandez addresses high school students in McAllen, TX
• Latino groups are pressing U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to withhold possibly millions in funding to Boston schools until the district complies with federal and state laws for programs aimed at students with limited English skills.
• Mayra Calvani says ‘Writing for Children is like Walking on a Rainbow’
• Dallas City Council members are expected to approve renaming South Central Expressway for Cesar Chavez. The name change would only cover a few blocks.
• The deaths of four children and an adult from hemorrhagic dengue so far this year has obliged authorities of the southwestern Colombian city of Cali to declare a health emergency
• In Kettleman City, CA, Birth Defects, Deaths and Questions – Children’s Deaths Point Eyes Toward Nearby Waste Facility – town described as “It’s got that Mayberry feeling, with a Latino twist.”
• A federal judge will decide whether to impose sanctions against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for its acknowledged destruction of police records in a lawsuit that accuses deputies of racially profiling countless Hispanics in immigration sweeps.
• Black and Hispanic Infants Much More Likely to Have HIV: the rate of perinatal HIV infection – meaning transmission at the time of birth – is 4xs higher for Latino bebes
• The Hispanic American Foundation contributed $5,000 to a Tulsa Ballet dance education program, which will benefit elementary school students at Newcomer School.
• Education Equality Project Announces Election of New Board Chairs Joel I. Klein, Michael L. Lomax, and Janet Murguía Unanimously Chosen to Lead Board of Directors
• The Associated Press and Univision Communications launch sweeping study of the opinions and experiences of Hispanics in the United States
• Latino youths not exposed to TV trash, not yet anyway
• Facing Our Future – Children in the Aftermath of Immigration Enforcement
• A federal judge has rejected a government request to dismiss a lawsuit by a U.S. citizen who was locked up for seven months at an immigration center. – Army veteran Rennison Castillo claims officials failed to act on his pleas in 2005 to check his military record and Social Security number.
• Maryland Court Orders State Police To Turn Over Racial Profiling Records