New York(SMI-WIRE,05.15.17)The Ballet Hispanico of New York held it's annual Carnaval Gala this evening honoring legendary Puerto-Rican EGOT winner actress " Rita Moreno" & Ecuadorian-American Pinnacle Group Chairman & CEO "Nina Vaca", during a Monday evening at the renowned Plaza Hotel's NYC.

Rita Moreno received the "Today Una Vida Lifetime Achievement Award " presented by

Puerto-Rican actress "Gina Rodriguez", while Nina Vaca received the " Nuestra Inspiration Award" by Ralph De La Vega, the former Vice Chairman of AT&T Inc. and CEO of Business Solutions & International, at its annual Carnaval Gala at The Plaza Hotel NYC.

Honorees: Rita Moreno

Octogenarian RITA MORENO still remains one of the busiest stars in show business. She currently stars in the critically-acclaimed Latino remake of Norman Lear's classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, which is now streaming on Netflix. Ms. Moreno also lends her voice to the character, "Abuelita" in the children's animated series, Nina's World, which airs on NBC-TV's Sprout Network. . Moreno is an EGOT winner, having won all four of the most prestigious awards in show business: the Oscar, the Tony, two Emmys, and a Grammy. Her countless credits span more than six decades, beginning with her Broadway debut at age 13.  Ms. Moreno has starred on Broadway; London's West End; appeared in more than 40 feature films (including the 1961 classic West Side Story), and countless television shows; has performed in numerous regional theaters including her one woman show, Life Without Makeup at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre; and appeared as a season regular on the TV Land series, Happily Divorced, playing Fran Drescher's mother. 

 

Ms. Moreno was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 and the National Medal of Arts by President Obama in 2010. In December 2015, she received a Kennedy Center Honor for her lifetime contributions to American Culture. In 2013, her first book, Rita Moreno: A Memoir instantly became a New York Times Best Seller. In January 2014, Ms. Moreno received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, and she served as the Grand Marshal of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in June 2015. That same year she released her first all Spanish language album, Una Vez Más, produced by Emilio Estefan.  

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Honoree : Nina Vaca 

NINA VACA is known around the world as a devoted entrepreneur, philanthropist, and champion for women and minorities in business.  Her story and insights have been read by millions in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Kiplinger, Inc. Magazine, and Fast Company, and she has been a featured guest on CNBC's Squawk Box, Fox News, and the CBS Evening News. 

Ms. Vaca has been tremendously successful with Pinnacle Group, a company she founded in 1996 and still heads today.  In her 20 years leading the company, it has grown into one of the largest companies in its field and one of the fastest-growing women-owned businesses in the country.  In recognition of her success, Ernst & Young honored her with its coveted Entrepreneur of the Year Award and elected her to its Hall of Fame.  She has also been one of Fast Company Magazine's 25 Top Women Builders, Goldman Sachs has called her one of the country's most intriguing entrepreneurs, NBC termed her an innovator, and she has been listed among the 100 most influential Latinos in the United States for the past decade. Ms. Vaca also brings her business expertise to the board of directors of Comerica Inc., Kohl's Corporation, and Cinemark Holdings. 

 

In addition to her business success, Ms. Vaca has a twenty-year track record of helping entrepreneurs build businesses and communities globally.  She has traveled the world as a White House-appointed Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs including in Ghana, Vietnam, and Bahrain.  Ms. Vaca also founded At the Table, an initiative to provide women the resources and exposure needed to achieve the highest levels of success in business.  At the Table is housed at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Foundation, which Ms. Vaca chairs.  She is also Chairman Emeritus of the USHCC, serving over 4.2 million Hispanic-owned U.S. businesses.

 

For her legacy of leadership, community involvement, and excellence in business, Ms. Vaca was named the youngest Distinguished Alumna in her alma mater's history and has been awarded three honorary doctorates by notable universities.  Earlier this year, she was named a 2017 National Women's History Project Honoree by the National Women's History Project alongside other notable women in labor and business for her part in paving the way for women business leaders.  Ms. Vaca was also inducted into the Minority Business Hall of Fame & Museum in 2016.  So far this year, she has received the Women of Impact Award presented by the NFL and Off the Field Players' Wives Association and was named one of the inaugural Women of Distinction by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council.

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ABOUT BALLET HISPÁNICO

America's premier Latino dance organization for more than 45 years, Ballet Hispánico brings communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures and the shared human experience through dance. Founded by National Medal of Arts recipient Tina Ramirez, Ballet Hispánico has been led since 2009 by Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro, who has infused the organization's legacy with a bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance that reflects America's changing cultural landscape. Through performances of its internationally-acclaimed Company, innovative dance training programs, and community education activities that inspire individuals of all ages and backgrounds, Ballet Hispánico brings the joy of dance and Hispanic culture to the world.