09-20-2007

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Univision’s Community Corazon Awards highlight individuals and organizations for displaying extraordinary devotion to community service and for an unwavering commitment to inform Hispanics in the United States about significant issues.

“Univision is honored to present this year’s Community Corazon Award for Leadership to Arturo Vargas and for Organization of the Year to the National Council of La Raza,” said Joe Uva, CEO, Univision Communications Inc.  “Arturo was a clear choice for our first community leadership award, as his passion for empowering the Hispanic community truly embodies Univision’s vision of a Community Corazon Award recipient.  And as the greatest champion for the inclusion of Hispanics at every level of American society, NCLR deserves to be recognized for doing more in its history to change the way Hispanics are represented in this country than many people ever thought possible.  Both Arturo and NCLR fight every day to make sure that every Hispanic voice in the U.S. is heard, and we are pleased to honor their tireless efforts.”

“I am truly moved to be receiving this award from Univision,” said Vargas.  “I share this with every Hispanic in the country who has not sat idly by as the country’s political landscape was shaped around them, but rather has stood up for all of our compatriots who have not yet found their voice within the United States community.”

“The National Council of La Raza is pleased to accept this award on behalf of all our affiliates throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.  Without them, we would not be able to touch the lives of so many Hispanics all across the nation,” said Janet Murguia, President and CEO, the National Council of La Raza.

Both awards will be presented by Univision President and Chief Operating Officer Ray Rodriguez at a celebration of Univision’s new Sunday morning newsmaker discussion program, “Al Punto” (To the Point) tonight in Washington, D.C. Rodriguez will be joined by Univision anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas.

Arturo Vargas is the Executive Director of NALEO, a national membership organization of Latino policymakers and their supporters, as well as Executive Director of the NALEO Educational Fund, an affiliated national nonprofit organization that strengthens American democracy by promoting the full participation of Latinos in civic life.  Mr. Vargas has been dedicated to assisting and educating the community about the importance of participating in the democratic process and the impact of the vote on the future life of Hispanic families in the USA.  Most recently, Mr. Vargas worked with Univision to launch Ya es hora ¡Ciudadanía!, a yearlong campaign aimed at informing, educating and motivating eligible permanent residents in the United States to apply for U.S. citizenship.

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) – the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States – works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas – assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families.  Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has operations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 99% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 89% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network;  Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 70 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico;  Univision Music Group, which includes Univision Records,  Fonovisa Records, La Calle Records and Mexico-based Disa Records as well as Fonomusic and America Musical Publishing companies; and Univision Online, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S. located at   www.univision.com  .  Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa’s pay television channels in the U.S., and a non-voting 14.9% interest in  Entravision Communications Corporation, a public Spanish-language media company.  Univision Communications has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.   For more information, please visit   www.univision.net.