Thirty Chicagoland Latinx leaders from the business, education and local government sectors were honored for their notable achievements during the second annual Latinx Community Awards at Wintrust Financial Corporation in Rosemont. The sold-out event was a collaboration of Fig Factor Media, an international media company, and several Wintrust Community Banks.
ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Thirty Chicagoland Latinx leaders from the business, education and local government sectors were honored for their notable achievements during the second annual Latinx Community Awards at Wintrust Financial Corporation in Rosemont. The sold-out event was a collaboration of Fig Factor Media, an international media company, and several Wintrust Community Banks.
Wintrust Community Banks recognized these established award winners who are making a difference, instigating positive change, and impacting the people in their communities.
The winners were the following: Alma I. Wright, Rachel M. Lara, Maria Castro, Heidy Mendez Grimaldo, Rober Reyes, Alex Guzman, Luciano Medellin, Arturo Flores, Jasmine Lopez, Pete Gonzalez, Jesus Ruiz, Paula Carballido, Federico Kliora, Suzanne Martinez, Erica Vega, Pedro Guerrero, Marco Romero, Erendira Loza, July Franco, Wilvert Ibares, Guillermo Memo Trujillo, Julio Cesar Valdez, Ricardo Montoya Picazo, Marisol Troncoso, Maria Llangardi, Melisa Quinones, Rosa Cojulun, Ezequiel Fuentes, Jose Sanchez, Rey Gonzalez and Priscilla Fuentes.
Fig Factor Media CEO Jacqueline S. Ruiz shared with the audience how Wintrust, a trusted partner in her company, believed in her book project about successful Hispanic women for her successful "Today's Inspired Latina" book series. The series has become the largest collection of Latina stories in a book anthology series in the world.
"These moments are what brings us together," she said. "We know our stories need to be shared and micro-moments like (this awards event) allow us that opportunity to share those stories," Ruiz said. "If it wasn't for somebody who believed in you like a mentor, a guide or even your younger brother or sister saying to you 'Yes, you can!', (then those stories would never be heard.)"
Yaneth Medina, president of Elgin at St. Charles Bank & Trust, a Wintrust Community Bank, explained how individual Wintrust Banks were involved in the nomination process, and representatives from each location came to speak about the winners during the event.
Being a community bank, Medina spoke about Wintrust's mission of connecting with customers such as nonprofits, businesses and individuals on all levels--through professional and volunteering interactions.
"We are here to elevate our communities," she said. "And, diversity and inclusion are important to Wintrust not just in the Latino community but at all levels. And so, (these awards) are a way for us to advocate for the (Latinx community.) We're here for Hispanic Heritage Month, but it's not just this month; it's all year round."
Carballido, co-founder and executive director of Lake County Honor Flight, accepted her award and explained how her organization is one of 129 chapter hubs. Her group invites veterans from the World War II, The Korean War and The Vietnam War to fly to Washington DC free of charge for a three-day visit the memorials.
"It's not just about the trip; it is an opportunity for all of us to get to hear their stories," she said. "Not all of their stories are easy to hear. Some of the veterans that we serve served during an era where they were segregated. They went to serve, and when they came back to the United States, they were mistreated and faced racism. They held on to those experiences for several years. So, what we get to do at Lake County Honor Flight is to share in the healing process of those veterans."
Nominee Daniel Hernandez, who operates Danny the Groomer, his Cicero dog grooming business, and also works as a special needs teacher was grateful to be considered for this award.
"As an influencer and business owner, I have the responsibility to be an example of kindness and the responsibility to help others. Being an example means pushing my students with special needs to believe in themselves and keep learning new skills to educating dog owners and providing financial help to get their pets the medical services they need," he said. "There is a lot that we are currently doing to make our Cicero and Chicago communities better places to live."
The following banks were event sponsors:
- St. Charles Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Northbrook Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Schaumburg Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Beverly Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Wheaton Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Old Plank Trail Community Bank, N.A.
- Libertyville Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Barrington Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Crystal Lake Bank & Trust Company. N.A.
- Village Bank & Trust N.A.
- Wintrust Bank, N.A.
About Fig Factor Media:
Fig Factor Media Publishing is an international publishing company with a "beeping" heart. Fig Factor Media has helped many authors achieve and support their dream of impacting their communities in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Fig Factor Media is the official publisher of Today's Inspired Latina. For information, visit
http://www.figfactormedia.com.
About Wintrust Banks:
Wintrust is a financial services company based in Rosemont, Illinois. Through our family of more than 175 community bank locations, and related companies and divisions, we offer:
- traditional commercial and community banking services
- wealth management guidance
- mortgage origination
- commercial insurance premium financing
- short-term accounts receivable financing and administrative services
Wintrust Community Banks® provide customer-oriented, personal and commercial banking services to communities in and around Chicago, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. Our banks go above and beyond banking solutions to be real assets to the communities we serve. We host financial education courses, hold community events, and throw neighborhood cookouts. And, we believe in supporting our local communities by sitting on local boards, getting involved with local organizations, and sponsoring local events.
The Wintrust Community Bank® family includes more than 150 locations in and around Chicago, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana. Our banks were built to be true community banks with the resources of a large company, but the personal touch of a small institution.
Wintrust Community Banks are named to reflect the unique communities they serve and are committed to being a true asset to those areas. Many employees not only work in the community, they live locally, and get involved with local events and organizations.
When you bank at a Wintrust Community Bank, you have access to any location in the network so we can provide the best of both worlds: the reach and power of a large organization with the uniqueness and client-focus of a true community bank. For more information, visit https://www.wintrust.com/. ###
Media Contact
Marie Lazzara, JJR Marketing, 630-400-3361, [email protected]
SOURCE Wintrust Banks
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