CONTACT: Rachel Di Salvo
(718) 709-6814
Rachel@SocialButterfliesatWork.com

CELEBRATING ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY
THE HISPANIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD GALA RETURNS
TO THE BRONX COURTHOUSE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21st
FOR THE ANNUAL DINNER CEREMONY, HONORING NEW YORK’S
MOST OUTSTANDING LATINO STUDENTS

PRESENTED BY LATINOBASEBALL.COM
SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY SINGING SENSATION XTREME,
ACTRESS AND PRODUCER ROSIE PEREZ

Who: Actress and activist, Rosie Perez, actor, Bachata duo XTREME,
LatinoBaseball.com, White Rose, New York Presbyterian Hospital, State Farm Insurance, Jasmin Franjul, founder of L.I.F.E and more.

What: LatinoBaseball.com & Ralph Paniagua Inc.
present the 20th Annual Hispanic Achievement Award Gala

Where: The Bronx Supreme Court House, 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY

When: Wednesday, May 21st, ceremony from 6 to 9 PM.

(New York, NY) May 21st, 2008 – The Hispanic Achievement Awards Gala is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The annual gala returns to The Bronx Courthouse rotunda, on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 to honor one hundred twenty-five of New York’s most outstanding Latino students from the New York State Department of Education’s inner city schools within the five boroughs.

Honorees have far exceeded standards of scholarship, leadership and attendance, all while showing a true appreciation for the value of education. The Bronx Supreme Court House will be transformed into a lavish dining hall in which the students, their families and the guest speakers will all gather for the celebration.

Then, on Saturday, May 24th the student-honorees will again be recognized before an audience of their families, six hundred VIP’s and fans, while on the field at Yankee Stadium. The Award for ‘Outstanding Citizen’ will also be presented to New York Yankee player Robinson Cano for his work within the Latino community.

“In its history the Hispanic Achievement Awards gala has had an array of speakers ranging from Latino astronauts, CEO’s, doctors, and scholars who have all addressed the students. It’s important for these students to see positive reflections of what they can achieve through education,” said Ralph Paniagua, Founder and CEO of R. Paniagua Inc.

This year the award ceremony will be graced by the likes of Bachata sensation, XTreme and living ledged, actress, producer and activist Rosie Perez. These talents will speak on the importance of education and congratulate the students for their recognition by the faculty and principals of their schools.

The gala has been supported by some of Hollywood’s finest and societies Elite. In the past stars like Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez and Selma Hayek presented awards to the students. The mayor of New York City, Mayor Bloomberg, has also been a great supporter of the annual event, throughout the years.

“Over the past two decades we have witnessed hundreds of success stories. We have had students who have gone on to Princeton and Oxford Universities”, added Paniagua.

There is no doubt that these honorees have Ivy League potential. These students have already demonstrated excellence in education. This is why the Hispanic Achievement Awards Gala prides itself in recognizing these talents. In a time when Latino student drop-out rates are higher, this ceremony shines the spotlight on those students who perform beyond the standard of excellence, and who have managed to achieve academic greatness despite social and financial challenges. This event also applauds the parents of these youngsters. “ Today, both parents have to work, many two jobs to stay above board, stated Paniagua, so it takes a strong family bond to succeed under these global conditions”

These events are made possible with the participation of sponsors White Rose Foods and their Good Neighbor program, State Farm Insurance, New York Presbyterian Hospital, the official Hospital of the New York Yankees, Cibao Meats, US ARMY and LatinoBaseball.com.

For More Information visit http://latinobaseball.com/index.php

For more information about R. Paniagua Inc. contact
Janice Torres (212) 363-0140/ Janice@SocialButterfliesatWork.com

For credentials to the Yankee Stadium presentation, on Saturday, May 24th Contact: New York Yankees Press Office- 1-718-293-4300 or contact Rachel DiSalvo at (718)709-6814