Hispanic Federation will join forces with People en Español to provide financial literacy information and service referrals to the Hispanic community at "Festival 2010," a celebration of Hispanic entertainment, culture and community.  Hosted at New York's Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square on Saturday, September 18, from 1:00 to 9:00 pm, "Festival 2010" will help kick off Hispanic Heritage Month in New York City.  The Hispanic Federation staff along with experts from Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, will be providing financial literacy services to the participants.

Now in its 5th year and formerly known as "People en Español Fiesta," Festival 2010 is a free, open to the public event that will be held in the heart of Times Square.  The ballroom space at the Marriott Marquis Hotel will be transformed into a destination and expo site to celebrate entertainment, culture and community that defines today's Hispanics.  To celebrate culture, guests will be treated to live musical performances by some of today's hottest musical acts including Sergio Vargas, Dulce Maria and Kat De Luna.  Celebrity appearances at Festival 2010 will include telenovela star Jacqueline Bracamontes and journalist/TV host Maria Antonieta Collins. Connecting with visitors on a more personal level and within their communities, Festival 2010 will feature motivational coaches and experts in the fields of Lifestyle, Health, Careers and Money. Coaches for the program include Lifestyle expert Maria Marin, Health expert Dr. Aliza Lifshitz, Career coach Mariela Dabbah and Money expert Maria Ines Ferre.

"People en Español knows entertainment—it is the core of our brand," said Lucia Ballas-Traynor, publisher of People en Español. "So with Festival, now in its 5th year, we are going to complement our must-have entertainment access with empowerment to really connect with today's Latina consumer on multi-levels. Lifestyle experts and coaches will provide tips to help simplify the lives of Latinas and their families, and connect with consumers on a more personal level.  We are bringing Festival to a new level where we can really address the unique needs of Latinas.  We want to be there to help her navigate her way."

For more information about "Festival 2010,” visit www.peopleenespanol.com/festival.