The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Edith A. Perez, M.D. as the recipient of the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, a recognition made possible through the support of Bud Light.
The NFL and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) have partnered to launch the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards Presented by Bud Light during the 2011 celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The awards recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market.
The Jaguars will honor Dr. Perez on October 9 at their Hispanic Heritage game when they face the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dr. Perez is Deputy Director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Florida. She also serves as Director of the Breast Program and is a Serene M. and Frances C. Durling Professor of Medicine at Mayo Medical School. She is a cancer specialist and an internationally known translational researcher at Mayo Clinic. Her roles extend nationally, including chairing the Breast Committee for the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, as well as other positions within the American Association for Cancer Research; the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Perez has developed, and is involved in, a wide range of clinical trials exploring the use of new therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. She has also developed studies to evaluate the role of genetic markers in the development and aggressiveness of breast cancer.
With support from Bud Light, each award recipient will select an organization of their choice that serves the local Hispanic community to receive a $2,000 donation.
"Bud Light is recognizing 32 great leaders in the 32 NFL cities with this award," said Margarita Flores, vice president of community affairs for Anheuser-Busch. "We applaud all the recipients for their work in making a difference in and improving their local communities."
Dr. Perez has chosen the Donna Foundation to receive this donation. The Donna Foundation assists women in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia who are currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and experiencing financial difficulty.
One of the 32 recipients, Giants honoree Lillian Rodríguez López of the Hispanic Federation, was recognized at the HHF's national Hispanic Heritage Awards in Washington, D.C. on September 15. The Hispanic Heritage Awards honor notable Latinos who have distinguished themselves in various fields and made an impact on America and globally. The Awards are considered the highest honor by Hispanics for Hispanics in America. In 2011, the Hispanic Heritage Awards mark their 25th Anniversary, which is also the anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month in America.
Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch have been a longtime friend and partner of the Latino community, enriching people's lives by supporting organizations that make a positive difference. In the past two decades alone, grants and contributions in support of the Latino community have totaled more than $64 million.
Contacts:
Renzo Sheppard, Jacksonville Jaguars: 904/633-6575, sheppardr@jaguars.nfl.com
Darlene Capiro, NFL: 212/450-2175, darlene.capiro@nfl.com
Antonio Tijerino, HHF: 703/871-4844, antonio@hispanicheritage.org
Phillip Cleveland, Bud Light: 314/577-9637, phillip.cleveland@anheuser-busch.com
Joe Muehlenkamp, Bud Light: 314/577-7528, joseph.muehlenkamp@anheuser-busch.com
About Anheuser-Busch
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.3 percent share of U.S. beer sales to retailers. The company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer. Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com
About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Since 1987, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) has inspired, identified, prepared and positioned Latino leaders. There call to action is to "help a Latino help a hundred more." Please visit www.HispanicHeritage.org for more information.
