Elaine Vasquez, producer, Isabel Diaz, M.D, Latina Pioneer of 2003, Erwin Vasquez, MD.
Latinas are a growing and an influential constituency in the United States. The Latina share of the female population in the United States will increase from 16.4% today to 25.7% by 2050. The vibrant network of Latinas in south Florida known as the Hispanic Women of Distinction, are planning their 15th anniversary on August 12, 2016 at the Signature Grand in Broward County, Florida with an exciting and inspiring day celebrating the rise of the Latina entrepreneur. Latina Style magazine in partnership with Bank of America, co-sponsored by AARP, Real Possibilities and Sylvester Cancer Center provide the support making the event one of the most well-attended with more than 1,000 guests.
The annual Hispanic Women of Distinction Charity and Business Expo began in 2001 as part of Hispanic Heritage Month with goal to empower Latinas, to gain insights and to learn from other successful women. Founded by the late Erwin M. Vasquez, M.D, a Venezuelan-born cardiologist, philanthropist and publisher of El Heraldo de Broward, Inc, the first Spanish language newspaper founded in 1974, he believed that Hispanic women were overlooked and underrepresented in the mainstream population.
By creating a focus on their contributions to the community and awarding a prestigious title on an annual basis, Dr. Vasquez believed that the Hispanic Women of Distinction celebration would strengthen and bring a positive focus on the changing face of American culture.
On August 12th twelve Latinas and a Latina Pioneer from Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties will join the 190 past honorees who have in common their American entrepreneurship intertwined with their values and traditions. Past honorees will open the festivities with a parade on a 120 foot runway.
“Each year, our judges have the difficult decision on selecting 12 winners from more than 70 nominations yet somehow they accomplish this task with fairness and a strong focus on their community service, “said Elaine Vasquez, founder and producer of the luncheon celebration.
The 2016 honorees are not afraid to dream big, to be grateful for the many opportunities and pay it forward. Their lives are rooted in family and built upon the lives of those who came before them. Their drive to succeed is authentic, their work ethic strong and their culture embedded in all they have accomplished.
The silent auction and raffles will benefit Mujeres Latinas Impulsando Mujeres Latinas, a Broward-based non-profit organization that reaches out to newly arriving families, provides mentoring programs to students and provides a series of seminars and gatherings assisting families with social services and access to healthcare services. Sponsorships and advertising will benefit the Light of the World Clinic, founded in 1989 serving more than 12,000 people a year with free healthcare services by volunteer physicians.
More than 30 sponsors, media and corporate partners are eager to benefit from the unique bilingual and bicultural dynamic this event brings. For more information, www.hispanicwomenofdistinction.com (954) 709-1622 or follow on Facebook.
2016 HONOREES:
Barbara Burnette, President B. Burnette Consulting (Davie, Florida)
Marie DeSanctis, President, Broward College , Central Campus (Lakeworth, Fl)
Liza E. Erazo – Administrator, Star Multi Care Services (Tamarac, Fl)
Katherine Cue-Fuente, Councilwoman City of Hialeah (Hialeah, Fl)
Lina M. Jankus – President, Lina Jankus & Associates (Wellington, Fl)
Monica Figueroa King – Executive Director, The Healthy Start Coalition (Plantation, Fl)
Claudia Ruiz Levy – President, CRL Media Multicultural Advertising & PR (West Palm Beach, Fl)
Lisa C. Martinez, M.D. – Dir. Internal Medicine Program-Univ. of Miami/Holy Cross Hospital (Boca, Fl)
Ivon Mesa – Dir. Violence Protection & Intervention, Miami Dade County (Miami Springs, Fl)
Katherine Fernandez Rundle – State Attorney, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office (Miami, Fl)
Victoria B. Saldala – Director Bilingual/ESOL Dept. Broward County Schools (Weston, Fl)
Sheila Rodriguez Walden -Fashion Director, Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (Pompano, Fl)
Latina Pioneer of the Year: Millie Herrera, President The Miami Group & Associates. which provides business and strategic marketing consulting services to domestic and international companies and non-profit organizations. She is an advocate for the rights of women, children, workers and immigrants for decades.
