Goya Hispanic Achievement Award Introduced

Goya Foods, in collaboration with the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has bestowed the first annual Goya Hispanic Achievement Award to recognize a Hispanic leader or organization in the fields of business, arts, science and social responsibility.

Jorge A. Plasencia, who has forged a trailblazing career encompassing media, marketing, entertainment and professional sports, accepted the award at a gala dinner at the New York City Public Library, attended by more than 250 guests.

In addition to his varied professional pursuits, Plasencia was elected chairman of the board of the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, and, while still a teenager, co-founded Amigos For Kids, a nonprofit organization aiding underprivileged children and families.

“We established The Goya Hispanic Achievement Award to celebrate our heritage and the success of the Latin community,” noted Bob Unanue, president of Secaucus, N.J.-based Goya, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, during the gala. “We wanted to highlight and commend an individual like Jorge Plasencia, who symbolizes and embodies the characteristics and qualities of an outstanding leader.”

Goya is a founding member of the Spain - U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a New York-based private, nonprofit organization, which, since it began in 1959, has fostered economic ties between Spain and the United States.