Princeton, NJ – Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) will hold its annual awards and fundraising event virtually on January 13, 2022, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST. The Three Kings Banquet – A Virtual Celebration will unite HISPA supporters across the country to honor the Hispanic and Latinx role models who support HISPA’s educational programs and raise funds for these programs.
HISPA is a nonprofit organization that conducts programs in New Jersey, New York, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania. It has served over 18,000 students to date by mobilizing over 3,000 role models. Their message to Hispanic and Latinx youth: you, too, can discover your potential and achieve your dreams through education.
The Three Kings Banquet coincides with the January 6 holiday of The Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, the traditional gift-giving period of the Nativity in many Spanish-speaking countries. HISPA selected this time to thank the volunteers and patrons who share their gifts to support educational equity and opportunity for all students.
Each year, HISPA bestows awards to those who excelled in their commitment to, participation in, and financial support of the organization. HISPA will present its Leadership in Mentoring Award to Verizon, its “Transform” Award for Sponsor of the Year to Bloomberg, its “Inspire” Award for Champion of the Year to Association of Naval Services Officers President Captain Roy Love, USN (Ret.), and its “Share” Award for Role Model of the Year to Dr. Michelle Hernandez, Occupational Toxicology Associate Director at Merck. Dr. Mary Fernandez, a nonprofit strategy consultant and 14-year HISPA supporter, will receive the “Corazón” Award for her invaluable in-kind support.
“We are excited to celebrate the HISPA supporters who showcased pathways to higher education and inspired students to set goals to achieve their dreams,” said HISPA President and CEO Dr. Ivonne Díaz-Claisse. “The Three Kings Banquet allows all of us to bring attention to the critical role our HISPA Role Models play in securing the future of our country.”
Joining us for this event are Diamond Sponsor Bloomberg; Gold Sponsors Bristol Myers Squibb and their Organization for Latino Advancement as well as Merck and Alianza, Silver Sponsors PNC Bank and UPS; and Bronze Sponsors Amazon, Verizon SOMOS, the Shepard/Zanders family, and the Diaz family.
Additional sponsors include Prudential, Beyond Parallel 32 LLC, the Norm Brodsky College of Business at Rider University, Alicia Garcia and the London Stock Exchange Group Latino Network, Miguel Porto, and Walter and Jennifer Rodriguez.
HISPA’s annual funders include Founding Partner Verizon, Co-Founding Partners Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, and the United States Navy, and Annual Partners Educational Testing Service, PSEG Foundation, and Bloomberg.