While Louis Pagan co-founded both Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) and Hispanicize, he was most known for his selflessness and ability to bring out the best in others. After Pagan passed away suddenly in 2013, his friends found a way to carry on his legacy through the Positive Impact Awards.
At last year’s inaugural ceremony held in Miami, George “Urban Jibaro” Torres became the first-ever recipient of the Positive Impact Award. He was honored for his commitment to meeting the needs of his community, including his work in mobilizing relief efforts after Hurricane Sandy and donating Christmas presents to poor children. The gala event also added $11 thousand to an education fund set up for Pagan’s two daughters.
This year, 20 people from across the country were nominated for their important work in the Hispanic community. Nominees include:
- Henry Acosta’s program, Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics, was recognized by the World Health Organization and the World Federation of Mental Health.
- Father David Garcia promotes solidarity across the U.S. and spreads relief to the developing world as senior adviser for Clergy Outreach for Catholic Relief Services.
- Evelyn Alvarez saw a lack of attention to the needs of young males in her New York area, and started Prom King—a program that collects new and gently used clothing to outfit young men for important events.
Read complete bios of all of this year’s Positive Impact Award nominees before winners are announced tonight (April 3).
Know a great candidate for the next year? 2015 nominations are open now!
