2009 Awards Gala
Shining Lights: Outstanding Leaders for a Brighter Future for Hispanics

April 16, 2009, held in West Orange, NJ

Congratulations to our honorees!
Special Recognition Award for Leadership in the Advancement of Mental Health
The Honorable Grace F. Napolitano
United States Congresswoman, 38th District, California
Co-Chair, Congressional Mental Health Caucus

Excellence in Federal Government Leadership Award
Teresa Chapa, Ph.D., MPA
Senior Policy Advisor, Mental Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health

Excellence in State Government Leadership Award
Albert J. Alvarez, Esq.
Deputy Chief of Staff, New Jersey Governor’s Office

Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award
The Honorable Peter Rivera
Assemblyman, 76th Assembly District, New York
Chairman, Assembly Standing Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

Excellence in Hispanic Mental Health Advocacy and Leadership Award
Maria Jose Carrasco, MPA
Director, NAMI National Multicultural Action Center

Excellence in Culturally Competent Mental Health Service Delivery
Puerto Rican Family Institute

Excellence in Hispanic Media Production & Community Education
Dialogo de Costa a Costa, HITN-TV

Excellence in Community Service and Humanitarian Award
Andy Griffin
Managing Partner, Premium Color Group, LLC

Lifetime Achievement Award in the Advancement of Hispanic Mental Health
Juan Ramos, Ph.D.
Retired, Former Senior Advisor to the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health

And thank you to our sponsors!

Premium Color Group, LLC
Goya Foods, Inc.
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Janssen, a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer
Schering-Plough Corporation