THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!

IT'S FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!

Mayor Bill White and the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board will kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month in September by hosting the 2008 Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Awards. Nominations are now being accepted for this year’s awards and the applications are available online at www.houstontx.gov/boards/index.html; click on 2008 Hispanic Heritage Awards Nominations. The deadline is June 23, 2008.

“Houston recognizes the importance and significance of volunteerism and giving back to the citizens of this great city,” said Mayor White. “We’re going to make sure some of our unsung heroes who do that get recognized for their positive contributions.”

As in previous years, five of “Houston’s Latino Unsung Heroes” will be recognized for their work in improving the of quality of life for the Hispanic community and for Houston as a whole. The winners will be announced on October 2, 2008 at the Wortham Center. The Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board is partnering on the awards with Univision and Bank of America this year.

Applications are being accepted with 500 word narrative statements highlighting the service provided by the nominees and biographies for five different categories and individuals. The award recipients will be selected through a process conducted by the appointed Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Awards Committee. The award categories are: Public Safety; Education; Health Care; Community Activist; and Lifetime Achievement.

Recipients also will be presented consecutively with a mayoral proclamation in their honor at Tuesday City Council sessions throughout Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15).