The Philadelphia Eagles have selected Angel Cruz as the recipient of the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, a recognition made possible through the support of Bud Light.
The NFL and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) have partnered to launch the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards Presented by Bud Light during the 2011 celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The awards recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market.
The Eagles will honor Cruz on August 25 at their Hispanic Heritage game when they face the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.
Angel Cruz is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the Philadelphia-based 180th district. Prior to being elected to the Pennsylvania House, Cruz served as Ward Leader for Philadelphia's 7th Ward, and as an aide to the Philadelphia City Council. Additionally, Rep. Cruz has been a longtime supporter of Impact Services, which was established in 1974 as the first program in the Ford Foundation's national demonstration on supported work. Jobs have been the linchpin around which Impact's work has centered since that time. Impact Services now operates in seven locations in Philadelphia where its staff of 120 provide a range of employment and training, supportive housing, community and economic development services to over 17,000 needy Philadelphians each year.
With support from Bud Light, each award recipient will select an organization of their choice that serves the local Hispanic community to receive a $2,000 donation.
"Bud Light is recognizing 32 great leaders in each of the 32 NFL cities with this award," said Margarita Flores, vice president of community affairs for Anheuser-Busch. "We applaud all the recipients for their work in making a difference in and improving their local communities."
Cruz has chosen the ASPIRA Association to receive this donation.
One of the 32 recipients will also be selected by the NFL and HHF to be recognized at the HHF's national Hispanic Heritage Awards in Washington, D.C. on September 15. The Hispanic Heritage Awards honor notable Latinos who have distinguished themselves in various fields and made an impact on America and globally. The Awards are considered the highest honor by Hispanics for Hispanics in America. In 2011, the Hispanic Heritage Awards mark their 25th Anniversary, which is also the anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month in America.
Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch have been a longtime friend and partner of the Latino community, enriching people's lives by supporting organizations that make a positive difference. In the past two decades alone, grants and contributions in support of the Latino community have totaled more than $64 million.
