Grammy winning musician Oscar Hernandez to be bandleader at the 2011 HOLA Awards taking place Monday, October 17, 2011 at New York’s Battery Gardens
New York, October 17, 2011— The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA), the nation’s longest running active arts advocacy organization for Latino actors, is pleased to announce that it will honor film and television star Luis Guzmán; “Law and Order: SVU” male lead, Danny Pino; singer-actor-humanitarian Rubén Blades; and broadcast journalist Natalie Morales of the “Today” show, as Delta Air Lines presents the Twelfth Annual HOLA Awards Gala and Benefit, also sponsored in part by NBCUniversal and Heineken USA. The Awards Gala and Benefit will take place this evening at 6:30pm at The Battery Gardens on the waterfront in New York’s scenic Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street).

Luis Guzmán will be honored with the organization’s inaugural HOLA Excellence in Film Award. Guzmán currently stars in the HBO program, “How to Make It in America,” and was most recently seen on the big screen in Arthur starring Russell Brand. Rubén Blades will receive the Raúl Juliá HOLA Founders Award to be presented by Merel Julia, widow of the late Raul Julia for whom the award is named. Blades’ career across the disciplines of music, politics and acting make him one of the Latino community’s most compelling and iconic figures. Danny Pino, the male lead of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” will receive the HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Award, and Natalie Morales of NBC’s “Today” show will receive the HOLA Excellence in Media Award.

HOLA will also honor the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) with a Special Recognition Award for their achievements in promoting the work of Latino filmmakers and actors as the premier urban Latino film event in the country. HOLA has also chosen Heineken as the inaugural recipient of the HOLA Award for Distinction in Corporate Arts Philanthropy. This award honors those corporations whose philanthropic endeavors serve to further and promote Latino arts and artists. HOLA is happy to laud and highlight Heineken's efforts to create opportunities for Latino actors, through its Voces Grant held in conjunction with the Tribeca Film Institute.

In addition to the aforementioned awards HOLA will also continue its annual tradition of honoring the best of Latino theater in New York with noncompetitive awards encompassing multiple winners in each category. HOLA is at the forefront in recognizing the high caliber work being offered across New York’s thriving Latino theatrical stages and, in that same spirit, is recognizing entertainment veteran Teresa Yenque with a Special Recognition Award for her over 40 years of excellence in the entertainment industry. A list of the 2010-2011 theater...