The Positive Image Awards (PIA) were created by the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce to combat negative images of Latinos portrayed in the media and to identify and honor outstanding people who contribute in a positive manner to the well being of the Hispanic community especially for our youth in the areas of education, business, community affairs and the humanities. Each year more than 400 elected city officials, business people and community stakeholders attend the PIA gala dinner to recognize the community leaders in these areas. The gala features live and silent auctions and a scholarship fundraiser to raise funds for HOT's various programs. Stay tuned for this years PIA gala and for information on how to purchase tickets!
Previous Positive Image Award recipients include:
2010 Positive Image Award Recipients:
The Hispanic Outreach Taskforces 16th Annual Positive Image Awards &
Scholarship Presentations took place on Sunday May 16th, 2010 from 1-4 p.m. The Tardeada de Honor with Silent and Live Auctions was held at Luminarias Restaurant,3500 W Ramona Blvd. Monterey Park, CA 91754.
The M.C. for the Gala was Alysha Del Valle from ABC7.
The pictures below feature the awardees and scholarship recipients for PIA 2010.
 
This years gala honored:
Chief Operating Officer Los Angeles Universal Preschool Celia C. Ayala, Ph.D.
As the Chief Operating Officer at the Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), Dr. Celia C. Ayala directs the organization’s multifaceted operations for more than 325 provider sites and 10,000 children in Los Angeles County. Dr. Ayala manages the expansion and enhancement of hundreds of classrooms to ensure that quality preschools are created and sustained.
President and CEO of Macondo Leasing Company Jorge C. Corralejo
Jorge C. Corralejo is the President and CEO of Macondo Leasing Company,a corporation he founded in 1984. Jorge also provides business consulting services to major national and international corporations through his company, Emerging Market Associates. A graduate from UC Santa Barbara in 1971 he also received his Masters Degree from Brandeis University in 1975. Mr. Corralejo has taught Business Development in the California State University system and has worked as a lobbyist in Washington D.C.
CEO Support Services of America Alex Fortunati
With a career spanning more than three decades, Alex Fortunati is among America’s leading facilities maintenance experts today overseeing one of the fastest growing companies of its type in the United States and Canada.Fortunati founded Support Services of America in 1996 and has since then built a nationwide team of janitors, handymen, security personnel and environmental specialists thousands strong across the United States with more than 2,500 sites under contract and extensive experience in retail stores, healthcare facilities, federal buildings, military installations, childcare centers and more.
Mayor City of Santa Fe Springs Betty Putnam
Betty was first elected to the Santa Fe Springs City Council in 1997, and has served continuously since. Betty served as Mayor from 2000-2001 and 2004-2005, and was selected as Mayor for 2010-2011. Betty has lived in Santa Fe Springs since 1954. She is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, earning a Bachelor's Degree in English. She earned her Master's Degree in Education from California State University, Los Angeles. Betty is a founding member of the Santa Fe Springs Community Playhouse, a member of the Rio Hondo Symphony, and Hathaway Museum Board of Directors.
Retired Executive Director and Cofounder of H.O.T. Mary M. Romero
Mary M. Romero and five other Latina professionals and Victor Ledesma founded the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce in 1988 to assist Hispanics to access much needed services and resources in the Southeast Los Angeles County area at a low fee or no fee. In order to provide educational services to the community, the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce incorporated
into a 501 (c) (3) organization. Mary provided guidance and leadership to HOT through the
years until her retirement in June of 2009.
HOT also presented scholarships to college bound high school seniors from throughout the Southeast Los Angeles County area.
2009 Positive Image Award Recipients:
The Hispanic Outreach Taskforces 15th Annual Positive Image Awards & Scholarship Presentations took place on April 26th, 2009 at Luminarias Restaurant,3500 W Ramona Blvd. Monterey Park, CA 91754.
The M.C. for the Gala was Sylvia Lopez,TV News Anchor KCAL9 - TV.
This years gala honored:
Executive Director Intercommunity Child Guidance, Charlene Dimas-Peinado
In 1991, Ms. Dimas-Peinado began her career with Intercommunity Child Guidance Center (ICGC) and during the next eighteen years worked in all levels within the organization, from being a therapist to clinical supervisor, then associate director and now its executive director.
In her capacity as executive director, Ms. Dimas-Peinado is responsible for the fiscal and administrative functions of the agency – a non-profit, mental health organization for abused and neglected children established in the city of Whittier in 1957.
Founder and CEO, Promerica Bank, Maria Contreras-Sweet
Ms. Contreras-Sweet is the founding chairwoman of PROMÉRICA BANK, the first Latino-owned business bank in California in over 35 years which serves small to mid-sized businesses with a focus on the Latino business community. Contreras-Sweet becomes one of the first Latinas in the country to found a publicly-traded company. Prior to founding PROMÉRICA BANK, Maria served for five years (longest ever) as the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Agency for the State of California, where she managed a $14 billion budget and a workforce of over 42,000.
State Senator, The Honorable Gil Cedillo
Gilbert Cedillo is the State Senator from the 22nd District which includes the cities of Alhambra, Maywood, San Marino, South Pasadena, Vernon and the Los Angeles communities of Boyle Heights, Little Tokyo, Downtown Civic Center, Koreatown, Pico-Union, Historic Pilipinotown, Artist District, South Los Angeles, Toy District, Flower District, Fashion District and parts of Chinatown. Senator Cedillo was elected, unopposed, to the Senate in 2002.
Senator Cedillo is a member of the following Senate Standing Committees; Public Safety, Health, Veteran’s Affairs, and Senate Rules Committee.
HOT also presented scholarships to college bound high school seniors from throughout the Southeast Los Angeles County area.
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2008 Positive Image Award Recipients:
The Hispanic Outreach Taskforces 14th Annual Positive Image Awards &
Scholarship Presentations took place on May 1st, 2008 at the Onmi Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The pictures below feature the awardees and scholarship recipients for PIA 2008.
 
This years gala honored:
Telacu Chairman /CEO, David Lizarraga
At TELACU, Lizarraga oversees the largest community development corporation in the United States, and manages more than $500 million in assets. He’s also credited with creating TELACU’s innovative model that allows for profit activities through TELACU Industries to fund its parent nonprofit CDC, which provide programs for young people, veterans, families, and senior citizens.
UCLA gerontologist, Dr. Fernando Torres Gill
Torres-Gil is acting dean of the UCLA School of Public Affairs and is the director of the Center for Policy Research on Aging. He’s an expert in the field of health and long term care, the politics of aging, social policy, ethnicity and disability.
Little Willie G, the lead singer for the1960’s band “The Midniters”
Born Willie Garcia, Little Willie G’s charisma, stage presence and vocal range helped the Thee Midniters become the greatest Latino rock band of the 1960’s. The group reached Billboard Magazine’s Top 100 nationally with “Land of 1000 Dances”. Today, he serves as an ordained minister and oversees Willie G Ministries in Whittier, which provides young people alternatives to gang activity and crime.
HOT also presented scholarships to college bound high school seniors from throughout the Southeast Los Angeles County area.
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2007 Positive Image Awards
The Hispanic Outreach Taskforces 13th Annual Positive Image Awards & Scholarship Presentations took place on March 1st, 2007 at the Onmi Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The pictures below feature the awardees and scholarship recipients for PIA 2007.
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