| WASHINGTON, D.C., February 23, 2012 – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced that Actor William Levy received the ‘Inspira Award’ for serving as a positive role model in the public eye. Levy will also be the 2012 spokesperson for the 26-year-old nonprofit organization’s youth programs through a public awareness campaign set to reach more than 10 million through social and traditional media. Levy will also be featured on posters distributed to over 8000 high schools and community centers around the nation. “We are thrilled to have William Levy inspire millions of young people to make a positive impact on our communities,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF. “We also applaud him for his contributions as a role model for youth through his career as an actor.” Levy was born in Cuba in 1980 and migrated to Miami, Florida, at age 14. He studied business administration on a baseball scholarship, but eventually went into acting and worked as a model. Since 2005, Levy has started and participated in seven telenovelas. Levy has won four acting awards and Spanish-language magazines (including People en Español) have listed him several times as the “most beautiful” and “most sexy” man. He also stars as Jennifer Lopez’s love interest in her latest music video I’m Into You from her album Love?, launched worldwide in May 2011. “It’s an honor to be collaborating with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, to further their mission and more importantly to inspire our youth,” said Levy. “Through my career and personal life, I hope to help promote the importance of Hispanic youth leadership and encourage them to continue striving forward.” HHF’s Youth Awards were created 1998 as a national leadership program to identify, inspire, prepare and position Latino high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom and community in various categories. From over 18,000 applications, HHF and their sponsors honor hundreds of Latino students across the United States in various categories including science, technology, engineering, math, business, education and community service. Former Inspira Award recipients include: America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama, Don Omar, among others. Established by the White House in 1987, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation is a national nonprofit organization which inspires, identifies, prepares and positions Latino leaders for classroom, community and workforce.For more information, please visit www.HispanicHertitage.org. Contact: JuanCarlos Paguaga, juancarlos@HispanicHeritage.org, 202-550-1229 |
