2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards – Cesar Chavez Foundation

United in Community: The 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards

June 19, 2025, by CCF

Inspired by Cesar Chavez’s legacy, the annual 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards united leaders from across the country at BMO Stadium for a powerful evening of unity and recognition. Individuals from business, labor, government, and education celebrated those advancing Cesar’s mission of empowering communities and championing justice for all.

This year’s remarkable honorees included Dr. George L. Pla, Patty Rodriguez, and Jimmy Humilde, who have each made a distinct and lasting impact on the community.

The Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards at BMO Stadium on May 29, 2025. Featured Custom Car – Humilde Car Club.

Dr. George L. Pla was honored for his lifetime of public service, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership. In 2023, he received a Presidential Medallion and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from California State University, Los Angeles. He is also an accomplished author, the founder and CEO of Cordoba Corporation, and a member of the Board of Trustees for the California Science Center. Reflecting on Cesar’s legacy during the ceremony, he reminded the audience: “the question we face isn’t whether [Cesar’s] values matter today. It’s whether we have the courage to live up to them.”

Patty Rodriguez, co-founder of Lil’ Libros, is a nationally recognized media producer and entrepreneur. Through her children’s publishing work, she celebrates cultural diversity and bilingual literacy and creates a space for young readers to see themselves reflected in stories.

Paul Chavez, CCF Board Chair, with 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Award honorees Patty Rodriguez, Jimmy Humilde, and Dr. George Pla at BMO Stadium.

Jimmy Humilde, co-founder and CEO of Rancho Humilde, helped redefine Latin music by promoting urban Mexican genres. His label has accumulated over 55 billion streams and nearly 10 billion views on YouTube. In 2024, he was named one of the Los Angeles Times’ L.A. Influentials for his cultural contributions. During his CCLA acceptance speech, Jimmy shared, “I didn’t have an entrepreneur I could look up to, being Chicano. We didn’t have that kind of businessman. We didn’t get to see it until later in life. I said, ‘I want to be one of those guys that young Chicanos look up to.’ Gracias a Dios, I am one of those guys.” Jimmy continues to break barriers and pave the way for future generations.

This year’s keynote address was delivered by Elsa Marie Collins, a proud first-generation Latina and social impact strategist and consultant known for her leadership and dedication to equity. As a co-founder of Poderistas and This is About Humanity, Collins uses her platform to amplify voices and foster meaningful change.

We were thrilled to have Annie Gonzalez as this year’s host. A talented producer, actress, and singer from East Los Angeles, she advocates for Latino representation in media. She produced and starred in the Jenni biopic, portraying Jenni Rivera.

Attendees enjoying local food favorites from the Taste of Avenida Cesar Chavez at the Legacy Awards at BMO Stadium.

Throughout the night, guests enjoyed the second annual Taste of Avenida Cesar Chavez, celebrating the rich culinary landscape along Cesar Chavez Avenue. Featured restaurants included Antojitos La Chispita, Churros El Bochito, Brooklyn Ave Pizza Company, La Blanquita, Los Cinco Puntos, La Princessita, and Sammy’s Elotes y Mas. Attendees enjoyed a variety of Los Angeles favorites, such as street dogs and freshly made churros, including an immersive display of beautifully crafted Lowriders, presented by Jimmy Humilde. The evening ended on a high note with a live performance by Boogaloo Assassins.

Notable attendees included Bricia Lopez, a culinary entrepreneur and restaurateur; Narsiso Martinez, a celebrated visual artist known for honoring farmworkers; and Erik Daniel Garcia, a dedicated social activist and content creator. Each guest received a copy of De Colores, a Lil’ Libros publication co-founded by Patty Rodriguez.

The Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards honor individuals dedicated to empowering their communities, showcasing the resilience and determination that embody Cesar’s vision. Their inspiring stories remind us that unity in the pursuit of equity and justice drives lasting change. We thank all our sponsors, particularly our presenting sponsors, Boston Financial and California Resources Corporation, for making this night a success.

California Resources Corporation’s Commitment to Cesar Chavez’s Legacy

March 28, 2025, by CCF

We are thrilled to announce California Resources Corporation (CRC) as one of the presenting sponsors for the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards.

Cesar Chavez dedicated his life to uplifting the lives of the most vulnerable people. He envisioned a future in which the causes he championed would prevail and his community would prosper. Today, the Cesar Chavez Foundation is committed to carrying on Cesar’s Legacy by uplifting and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural, and community needs.

CRC is a key partner that shares our vision, is deeply committed to environmental stewardship, and works to provide local, responsibly produced energy and innovative carbon management solutions.

Beyond their environmental efforts, CRC plays an active role in transforming communities. They have made significant investments in student enrichment programs, including supporting educational field trips to the National Chavez Center (NCC), an arm of the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

“CRC has been a great partner to the National Chavez Center over the last year as they have demonstrated their strong commitment to our mission and work through their support of NCC programs and events. The support CRC provided has enabled the NCC to offer a number of field trips to youth and their families, allowing them to visit the César E. Chávez National Monument and surrounding area. We look forward to our continued partnership with CRC to expand the legacy and values of Cesar Chavez,” shared Andres Chavez, Executive Director of the National Chavez Center.

Through specialized programs, students can learn about the life of Cesar Chavez and the causes he passionately supported. They are able to engage in many different activities, including art projects, hiking, and yoga, an activity Cesar faithfully embraced throughout his life.

“At CRC, we are committed to making a lasting, positive impact on families and communities across California by investing in education, economic empowerment, and sustainability. Our partnership with the National Chavez Center reflects this commitment, providing immersive experiences that honor Cesar Chavez’s legacy and connect individuals to history, culture, and social justice. Through the ‘A Day in the Life of Cesar’ educational trips, we are proud to help bring communities together, fostering a deeper understanding of civil rights activism and inspiring future generations. We look forward to continuing this partnership to enrich even more lives,” shared Francisco Leon, Chief Executive Officer and President of the California Resources Corporation.

CRC has made a lasting and transformative impact on students, shaping their futures and empowering them to make meaningful contributions to society. Through our shared efforts, we will continue to uplift and inspire communities, honoring Cesar’s legacy and creating positive change that strengthens communities for generations to come.

Boston Financial Announced as Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards

March 12, 2025, by CCF

We are proud to celebrate Boston Financial, a presenting sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards.

At the Cesar Chavez Foundation, we carry on Cesar’s life’s work of uplifting and transforming Latino and working families by inspiring and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural, and community needs. We are committed to creating opportunities that empower people to thrive on all fronts.

For almost 60 years, Boston Financial has been at the forefront of affordable housing capital solutions and investment management, creating hundreds of thousands of affordable housing opportunities nationwide. Boston Financial is America’s largest syndicator of affordable housing and envisions a future where everyone has a home. With each investment, they are steadily working toward this transformative goal.

“Boston Financial could not be more proud to serve as a presenting sponsor of the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards,” said Roy Faerber, Senior Managing Director at Boston Financial. “There is an undeniable correlation between stable housing for families and the health, educational achievement, and economic opportunity for an entire community. We have immense respect for the decades of work that the Cesar Chavez Foundation has put into raising up communities and bringing the dignity of affordable housing to thousands of families.”

Boston Financial has been an instrumental partner in the creation of the Chavez Foundation’s newest affordable housing community, Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II—a high-quality, service-enhanced community for working families in El Monte, California.

Plaza Ortiz II, named in honor of the 19-year-old El Monte native who was killed during the Korean War and whose remains were returned nearly 70 years after he was reported missing in action, offers 53 units of 100 percent affordable housing, along with community services such as the Si Se Puede Learning Center, the Chavez Foundation’s flagship after-school program for K-5 students.

The combined efforts of the Chavez Foundation and Boston Financial have had a positive and lasting impact on the El Monte community, including residents like Marlee Martinez. “Living in Plaza Ortiz has positively changed my family’s life. Our new home has brought us closer together and provided great educational and healthcare opportunities” said Marlee.

“Affordable housing is not just about developing housing; it’s about building thriving communities. Partners like Boston Financial, with their expertise and dedication to affordable housing investments, play a crucial role in ensuring long-term, sustainable solutions. Their commitment to fostering economic growth and stability within communities helps create environments where residents can truly thrive. Together with the residents, they lay the foundation for transformative change, setting the standard for what can be achieved both individually and as a community” shared Alfredo Izmajtovich, Vice President of the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s Housing and Economic Development Fund.

We are thrilled to have Boston Financial as a presenting sponsor for the 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards and celebrate their commitment to positive change.

We look forward to our continued partnership as we work to achieve our shared mission.

Tag: 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards

United in Community: The 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards

California Resources Corporation’s Commitment to Cesar Chavez’s Legacy

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