Union Bank and KCET Celebrates Los Angeles and Orange County Latinos as Local Heroes

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Union Bank and KCET will honor five exceptional Latinos from Los Angeles and Orange County with the 2009 Local Heroes Award for their outstanding community service.

This year's honorees are: Judge Rudolph Diaz of Los Angeles; Antonia Hernandez of Los Angeles; Rueben Martinez of Santa Ana; and Raul and Maria Salinas of Pasadena. The awards will be given on Thursday, October 1, at the KCET studios in Los Angeles.

The honorees will be formally recognized as part of the 12th Annual Local Heroes Awards, which Union Bank sponsors in conjunction with public television station KCET. The station will also broadcast video profiles of the honorees throughout its Hispanic Heritage Month programming from September 15 to October 15.

"Union Bank is proud to recognize the contributions of these local heroes who have generously given their wisdom, time and resources to enrich our communities," said George Ramirez, senior vice president and head of Priority Banking at Union Bank. "We are delighted to again partner with KCET as we recognize these individuals who personify our core values of diversity and community involvement."

"KCET is honored to again partner with Union Bank to celebrate this year's Local Heroes," said Al Jerome, president and CEO of KCET. "These heroes in our communities work each and every day to improve the quality of life for all. We are pleased to introduce them to our viewers through the video profiles airing on KCET throughout Hispanic Heritage Month so that millions of others will have an opportunity to learn more about the many contributions of these outstanding community leaders."

The 2009 honorees are:

Judge Rudolph Diaz presides over Family Law at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles. For more than six years, he served as the supervising judge of the Eastlake Juvenile Court where he initiated the Juvenile Drug Court Program. Judge Diaz is also chairman of the Los Angeles County Oversight Committee on Drug Courts and serves on the Los Angeles County Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Commission. He is a founding member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and was the first Latino to serve as president of the California Judges Association.

Antonia Hernandez is president and CEO of the California Community Foundation (CCF), one of the philanthropic organizations in Southern California. Previously, she was president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). Nationally recognized for her commitment to underserved communities throughout Los Angeles, Hernandez currently serves on numerous boards, including the Institute of Politics at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and the UCLA School of Law Board of Advisors. She also received UCLA's 2008 Academic Advancement Program Leadership Award as a civic champion of education access and excellence.

Rueben Martinez is the founder and owner of Libreria Martinez Books & Art Gallery and Libros Para Ninos, a children's bookstore. Now celebrating his 29th year as a business owner, Martinez promotes reading, education and democracy within the community. He has been instrumental in developing reading enthusiasts, improving children's performance in school, enriching families and instilling pride in others. Martinez is also a keynote speaker. He was named one of the "100 People Who Shaped Orange County" by the Orange County Register in 2005 and one of CBS' "American Heroes" by Katie Couric in 2007.

Raul & Maria Salinas, husband and wife, have been recognized for their service to the Latino community. Salinas is managing partner for the Los Angeles office of Adorno Yoss Alvarado & Smith, the nation's minority owned law firm. He founded the California Hispanic Corporate Council Leadership Institute and is active in a number of civic and community organizations. Salinas is president of Salinas Consulting, an accounting and finance management firm. She previously worked for The Walt Disney Company and is also a founding member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE).

As part of its ongoing celebration of Hispanic history and culture, KCET will broadcast several programs throughout Hispanic Heritage Month in addition to short video profiles of each honoree.

Highlights include:

Los Ninos en Su Casa airs seven days a week at 6 a.m. and weekdays at 1 p.m. The Emmy Award winning show is the Spanish-language companion to A Place of Our Own and is dedicated to the needs of those who care for children. Topics include building language and literacy skills, behavior, special needs and nutrition.

Voces premiered on September 16 at 10 p.m. This eight-part series hosted by Edward James Olmos and presented by Latino Public Broadcasting, presents an eclectic mix of programs that celebrate the experiences of an American society increasingly influenced by Latino traditions. Over the eight episodes airing throughout September, Voces will offer an inside look at musical legends, activists, and the story of Mexican "guest workers" in the controversial U.S.-Mexico bracero program. Please check local listings.

P.O.V. 2010 "Made in L.A." airs on September 26 at 9 p.m. and focuses on Los Angeles' apparel manufacturing industry by following the remarkable journey of three Latina immigrants working in garment factories. This intimate film offers a glimpse into the "other" California, where immigrants in many industries work tirelessly for sub-minimum wages, fighting for an opportunity in a new country.

Latin Music USA airs on October 12 at 9 p.m. and examines Latin music's roots and the impact it has had on the U.S. The first hour, "Bridges," traces the rise of Latin jazz and the explosion of Latin styles, such as the mambo, as it sweeps the U.S. from east to west. The second hour, "The Salsa Revolution," investigates how the Cuban son and the Puerto Rican plena blended with soul and jazz to create salsa, the defining rhythm for Latinos worldwide.

Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corp. is a financial holding company with assets of $74 billion at June 30. UnionBanCal Corp. is the 16th largest commercial bank holding company in the U.S. based on assets at March 31.

KCET, the West Coast flagship station of PBS, is a public television for Southern and Central California.

Descriptions of Hispanic Heritage Month Programs:

http://www.kcet.org.

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