Chef José Andrés
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Twice named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, José Andrés is an internationally renowned chef, New York Times bestselling author, educator, and humanitarian. Born and raised in Spain, he is credited with popularizing tapas in America and oversees more than 40 restaurants as the Executive Chairman of José Andrés Group.
José is the founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. In 2017, he and his team arrived in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane María, setting up a network of kitchens and food trucks that would eventually reach the whole island. From Ukraine to Gaza to Haiti, across the United States and beyond, World Central Kitchen’s “food first responders” have partnered with local chefs and restaurants to serve nearly one billion nourishing meals around the world.
José has helped shape the global dialogue around food while inspiring chefs worldwide to see feeding people as both a craft and a higher calling. His work has earned awards and distinctions including the 2015 National Humanities Medal, “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation, and the Princesa de Asturias Foundation’s 2021 Concordia Prize. A proud naturalized U.S. citizen, Andrés has been a tireless advocate for immigration reform and on July 4, 2014 was named by President Barack Obama as that year’s “Outstanding American by Choice.”
Esai Morales
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Esai Morales is an award-winning actor and producer with a career spanning over four decades. A Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican and graduate of New York’s High School of Performing Arts, Morales gained recognition for his breakout role in “Bad Boys” and his portrayal of Bob Morales in “La Bamba,” the highest-grossing rock-themed biopic of all time. Most recently, he appeared in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” and “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” and stars in the 2026 sci-fi thriller “War Machine.”
Morales has worked steadily across film, television, and stage. His film credits include “My Family,” “Rapa Nui,” “Paid in Full,” and “Gun Hill Road,” which he executive produced and which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival. On television, he has appeared in “NYPD Blue,” “Ozark,” “Criminal Minds,” and “Titans.” His stage work includes performances in Oscar Wilde’s “Salomé” with Al Pacino, “The Tempest” with Raúl Juliá at the New York Shakespeare Festival, “The Exonerated,” and his musical debut in “The Mambo Kings.”
In 1997, Morales co-founded the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts alongside Jimmy Smits, Sônia Braga, and attorney Felix Sanchez. The foundation, which advances the presence of Latinos in media, telecommunications, and entertainment, has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to Hispanic students. A self-described “actorvist,” Morales actively supports causes including public health, literacy, environmental issues, immigration, arts funding, and social justice.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
ourBRIDGE for KIDS is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children of immigrant and refugee families as they adapt, grow, and thrive in their new communities. Founded with a mission to bridge cultural and educational gaps, the organization provides a safe, inclusive space where children can build confidence, develop academically, and form meaningful connections.
ourBRIDGE for KIDS offers a range of impactful programs, including after-school academic support, literacy development, and summer enrichment designed to prevent learning loss. Its multicultural programming celebrates the diverse backgrounds of the children it serves, fostering cross-cultural understanding through arts, storytelling, and community events. The organization also emphasizes social-emotional learning, leadership development, and family engagement, ensuring that both children and their families feel supported and empowered.
Over the years, ourBRIDGE for KIDS has reached hundreds of students from dozens of countries, helping improve academic performance, school attendance, and self-confidence among participants. By partnering with schools, volunteers, and community organizations, the agency has strengthened its ability to deliver high-quality programming and expand its impact. Through its continued growth and commitment to equity and inclusion, ourBRIDGE for KIDS stands as a vital resource for building opportunity and belonging for Charlotte’s newest generations.
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP AWARD
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we’re unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world — and today, we’re at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities.
Diversity and inclusion is fundamental to how we advance innovation and improve health outcomes for patients and communities worldwide. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging, engagement and fair opportunity, backed by an enterprise‑wide diversity and inclusion strategy that spans our workforce, leadership, business practices and community partnerships. Within this commitment, supporting the Hispanic and Latino community is a longstanding priority—reflected through Alianza, our global Hispanic/Latino employee business resource group, which promotes professional development, mentorship and leadership, as well as through external engagement with Hispanic‑focused health and community organizations. By valuing diverse perspectives and working closely with the communities we serve, Merck strengthens its ability to deliver life‑saving and life-improving medicines and create lasting impact.
We’re thrilled to support the Hispanic Federation’s tremendous health care policy efforts on behalf of patients, families and communities. We are honored to receive the Corporate Leadership award.
