President Obama and First Lady to Attend CHCI's 36th Annual Awards Gala

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- CHCI Chair Rep. Ruben Hinojosa announced today that President Barack Obama, joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, will address the largest Latino gala in the country at CHCI's 36th Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  This marks five of the past six years President Obama has addressed the CHCI Gala, going back to when he was a presidential candidate in 2008.

"CHCI is very proud to welcome President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to our 36th Annual Awards Gala on October 2nd," said Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, CHCI Chair.  "His attendance reflects a strong commitment to the Latino community and to the future leaders that CHCI works so hard to develop each year."

CHCI's 36th Annual Awards Gala, themed "Our Time: A Strong America," will convene the nation's largest and most prestigious gathering of Hispanic nonpartisan, public, and private sector leaders. The evening's festivities will include the presentation of the CHCI Medallion of Excellence awards to entertainer Salma Hayek Pinault and Dr. Juan Andrade, President of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. The CHCI Chair's Medallion Award will be presented to Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa, Chancellor of the University of Texas System.

Emmy Award winning Telemundo journalist, Jose Diaz-Balart, will serve as celebrity host for the gala ceremony and five time Grammy Award® and Latin Grammy®-winning international superstar Olga Tanon will perform at the Gala Entertainment Finale.

"I want to thank the President and First Lady for once again demonstrating how important it is to support the next generation of Latino and American leaders," said Esther Aguilera, CHCI President & CEO.  "We always say that 'it takes leaders to bring forth leaders' and to have the leader of the free world supporting our programs provides added fuel for CHCI to continue its efforts to serve Latino youth and young professionals."

Each year, the CHCI Annual Awards Gala is the hallmark event during Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, D.C., and serves as the unifying event for the Hispanic-American community. Proceeds from the Gala benefit CHCI's award-winning leadership development programs which include: Ready to Lead (R2L™), the Congressional Internship Program (CIP), the Public Policy Fellowship Program (PPF), and the Graduate Fellowship Program (GFP).

For media credentials, click here. (http://www.chci.org/events/page/2013-hhm-media-credentials-form )