WASHINGTON, D.C – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) today announced Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony as the recipient of the 2009 CHCI Chair’s Award. Hon. Nydia Velazquez (NY-12), CHCI Chair, will honor Anthony, one of the most influential artists of his generation, with the prestigious «2009 CHCI Chair’s Lifetime Achievement Award» at CHCI’s 32nd Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
Marc Anthony will be honored not only for his landmark achievements as an entertainer, but most importantly for bringing Latin music and culture into the mainstream and bringing honor and pride to the Hispanic American community. The five-time Grammy winner is not only the biggest selling salsa singer of all time, but also an accomplished actor and producer.
Each year, the CHCI Annual Awards Gala is the hallmark event that launches Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, D.C., and serves as the unifying event for the Hispanic American community. The Gala program each year is developed around a unifying theme that highlights CHCI, its mission and programs, the CHCI Medallion of Excellence honorees, and culminates with the grand finale presentation of the Chair’s Award. This year’s theme is Latinos Leading in the Arts. The 32nd Annual
Awards Gala is hosted by CHCI’s Legacy Partner, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
The Chair’s Award is presented each year to an individual who has dedicated his or her public or private career to improving the lives of Hispanic Americans. The honoree is chosen wholly at the Chair’s discretion. The Chair’s Award was first conferred in 2003.
Past recipients include:
2003 Ricky Martin
2004 Jorge Ramos
2005 Rita Moreno
2006 Maria Elena Salinas
2007 Tribute to Latino Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients
2008 Hon. Solomon P. Ortiz (TX-27)
Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18)
Hon. Jose E. Serrano (NY-16)
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 – October 15. For CHCI, it also represents an opportunity to highlight its competitive and nationally acclaimed Latino youth leadership development programs, including two fellowship programs, a Congressional internship program, scholarship awards, and a college readiness program, Ready to Lead (R2L) for high school students.
About Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, making him one of the most influential artists of his time and a true ambassador of Latin music and culture. He has been awarded over 12 Latin and Standard gold and platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The list of Grammy accolades begins with a 1998 Grammy for Best Latin/Tropical Performance for «Contra La Corriente,» followed with a 1999 Grammy for Song of the Year for «Dimelo.»
Driven in part by the crossover success of his smash single «I Need to Know (Dimelo),» «Marc Anthony,» his English language debut album, helped usher in 1999’s Latin pop explosion, and went on to achieve triple platinum status in the U.S. And, in 2005 Marc Anthony went home double fisted with a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album of the Year for «Amar Sin Mentiras» and another Grammy for Best Tropical Album of the Year for «Valio la Pena.» He has won a total of 18 «Premio lo Nuestro» Awards throughout his career, the most won by any artist.
Marc has also established a highly credible acting résumé and may be seen in Martin Scorsese’s «Bringing Out the Dead» (1999); opposite Selma Hayak in the Showtime original film, «In
