Anthony Gonzales, star of Disney/Pixars “Coco.” Will be honored for serving as an inspiration to all Latino youth, Feb 7th at Capitol Hill.
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), their sponsors, Members of Congress, community and business leaders, and national Latino leaders. Will honor Gonzalez as well as seven high school seniors from across the United States, including DC and a parent at the 19th Annual National Youth Awards.
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation; a nonprofit established in 1987. Inspires, prepares, and connects innovative Latino leaders in the classroom, community, and workforce to meet America’s priorities. HHF also promotes cultural pride, accomplishment, and the great promise of the community through public awareness campaigns seen by millions.
Gonzalez, a 13-year-old Los Angeles native served as the voice of Miguel in “Coco.” A young boy who dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz; despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music.
The film brought in over $680 million worldwide at the box office and is the biggest film in Mexican box office history and recently received a 2018 Golden Globe Awards Win for Best Animated Feature Film.
Before working on ‘Coco,’ Anthony started singing at the age of four when he started doing street performances on Olvera Street in LA with his brothers and sisters. He also performed on the legendary variety show Sabado Gigante, auditioned for Telemundo’s La Voz Kids (The Voice for kids) and acted in Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and FX’s The Bridge.
“We are proud to honor Anthony Gonzalez who has brought together families through his work in ‘Coco’ as well as another class of outstanding young Latino leaders who are already making an impact on our classrooms, communities and soon workforce,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “We will also recognize the critical role of parents in the success of a child. for their impact on their children. We are grateful to our sponsors for their shared vision and support as we focus on moving America forward.”
HHF will promote the recipients of the Youth Awards and the parents as role models through a national multi-media campaign
The National Youth Awardees and Parent Award include (see www.rsvpya.com for full bios):
· Business & Entrepreneurship, presented by BBVA Compass – Yanik Ariste, Miami, FL
· Community Service, presented by Colgate-Palmolive Company – Ryan James Solis, El Paso, TX · Education, presented by Southwest Airlines – Adriana Marie Rosario, Dacula, GA
· Engineering & Mathematics – Luis Gonzales, Pharr, TX
· Healthcare & Science, presented by CVS Health – Isabella Lorence, Bethesda, MD
· Media & Entertainment, presented by NBC Universal | Telemundo – Luna Rain Garcia, Los Angeles, CA
· Technology, presented by Google – Catalina Rafaela Sanchez- Maes, Las Cruces, NM
· Parent Award, presented by Pearson – Parent of one of the recipients will be announced at the ceremony
The awards ceremony will be on February 7th, in Senate Dirksen Building, Room 215, Constitution Ave and First St, NE, Washington, DC. Regristration and reception will begin at 9:30am and the ceremony at 10:30am.Where Singer/Actress Catie Waters will perform a special version of God Bless America at the ceremony, which will be filmed for broadcast on Vme Tv.
