Coors Brewing Company Unveils Hispanic Leader of the Year

As part of it Lideres program, Coors Brewing Company announced today that Lillian Rodríguez López, president of the Hispanic Federation, has received the 2007 Coors Hispanic Leader of the Year Award. In addition, her non-profit organization, Hispanic Federation, has been named the 2007 Coors Hispanic Non-Profit Sponsor of the Year.

“The Leader of the Year award is intended to raise awareness about the important work and contributions Hispanic leaders are making in their communities,” Rafael Fantauzzi, director of corporate relations for Coors Brewing Company, said. “Lillian’s dedication inspires those around her and she proves that one person can make a huge difference,” Fantauzzi said.”

Coors will spotlight Rodríguez López’s work in the community through a print ad in the December issue of Hispanic Magazine; and through a short documentary film debuting in 2008. The Hispanic Federation also will receive a $25,000 grant to support the Hispanic Leadership Institute, a Hispanic Federation leadership development initiative.

“I am deeply honored to be receiving this award from Coors Brewing Company,” said Rodríguez López. “The fact that individuals across the country chose to spotlight the important work we do at the Hispanic Federation is inspiring and really validates our mission. The grant will help to support our leadership initiatives for Hispanic leaders.”

The Hispanic Federation serves 94 Latino health and service agency members in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Rodriguez-Lopez, at the helm of the Federation since 1996, has dramatically increased its organizational capacity to serve an ever-increasing network of member agencies and respond to the Latino community’s local and national needs. Today, the Hispanic Federation’s network of member agencies serves more than 1 million Latinos.

The Coors Líderes Program, launched in 2006, celebrates and supports leadership within the Hispanic community. The first phase of the campaign showcased national and local leaders in the Hispanic community through twelve print ads highlighting twenty-three Hispanic leaders during Hispanic Heritage Month. This advertising campaign portrayed the diverse demographics represented in the U.S. Hispanic community and celebrated its leadership, biculturalism and bilingualism.

The 2007 Coors Líderes ads featured 20 Hispanic leaders. To select the individuals featured in the ads, Coors asked Hispanic national and local non-profit partners and organizations to identify community leaders who represent the values of their organizations and the communities they serve. The public was invited to participate in selecting the Leader of the Year by casting their vote online through the Coors Lideres website, www.CoorsLideres.com. More than 1,500 individuals cast their vote online during the three-week voting period in October.

In 2006, Rosa Navejar, president of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, was the recipient of the Coors Hispanic Leader of the Year award. “*

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