WASHINGTON — The Hispanic
Heritage Awards Foundation named the five recipients of its coveted Hispanic Heritage Awards. The announcement follows NBC’s recent news to air the Hispanic Heritage Awards 2000 as a prime-time special on
its entire network, for the first time this year.Widely recognized as the most prestigious honor in the Hispanic community, the Hispanic Heritage Awards honor individuals have reached the pinnacle of
their careers, achieving brilliant personal success while contributing to the Hispanic community.
The Hispanic Heritage Awards honor individuals in five categories — the arts literature, leadership,
education and sports. These individuals have achieved personal success in their professions while contributing to the Hispanic community and our entire society.
The Millennium celebration of the Hispanic
Heritage Awards will take place September 7, 2000 with a star-studded gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. NBC will air the event as a prime-time network special on
September 9, 2000
The Hispanic Heritage Awards 2000 honorees are:
Oscar Hijuelos (New York, New York) for Literature — is the first American-born Hispanic to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
With his award-winning novel, “The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love”, Hijuelos has used his writing to explore the complex experience of Hispanic immigrants in America, thereby documenting their struggles and
dreams.
Dolores Huerta (La Paz, California) for Leadership — is the co-founder of the first successful union of agricultural workers in the history of the United States. An activist and labor
organizer, Huerta has been pivotal in the fight for equality - for farm workers, Latinos and women.
Anthony Quinn (Los Angeles, California) for the Arts — was one of the first Hispanic actors to
become an international star. With a body of film and stage work that spans more than 60 years and over 300 films, this two-time Academy Award-winner has, throughout his career, chipped away at the barriers
that kept ethnic actors from getting leading roles in Hollywood.
Cruz Reynoso (Los Angles, California) for Education — has been a zealous advocate for the poor, and disenfranchised. He was appointed
by President Clinton and serves as vice-chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Widely regarded as the nation's leading Latino legal figure, today he is a UCLA professor of law, encouraging a new
generation of law students to continue the fight for positive change.
Samuel (Sammy) Peralta Sosa (Chicago, Illinois) for Sports — made baseball history in 1998 when he, along with Mark McGwire,
broke roger Marris’ 37 year-old record of 61 home runs in a single season. The talented outfielder has made an impact off the field by supporting various charities that help needy children in the Dominican
republic where he grew up, and in the U.S. where he lives.
Chaiman of the awared foundation Raul R. Tapia stated, “Our Hispanic Heritage Awards Honorees are familiar faces to all Americans. As they gather
together on one stage, we are reminded of the meaningful impact Hispanic-Americans. As they gather together on one stage, we are reminded of the meaningful impact Hispanic-Americans have on every aspect of
American life. They have contributed a rich heritage, and all America is proud.”
The Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation is credited with spearheading a growing recognition of Hispanic achievement in the
U.S. through the Hispanic Heritage Awards, which over the last 14 years has grown into a major national event. While the star-studded Awards ceremony has been broadcast for the past four years on NBC
television stations, this year, the special will air as a prime-time event on the entire NBC network, broadening the reach of the program to many more viewers nationwide, as it marks the start of Hispanic
Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15).
The nominees for the awards are selected by 33 different Hispanic organizations throughout the U.S.
