The Leadership for the Americas Awards Gala celebrates individuals and organizations committed to advancing democratic governance, social equity, and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere. The annual event brings together top world leaders whose exceptional contributions have been instrumental in addressing the most pressing challenges facing our region. Previous honorees or program participants include Cirque du Soleil, Daniel Servitje, Chairman and CEO of Grupo Bimbo, Nobel Laureate and President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos, former President of the Government of Spain Felipe González, former President of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardoso, BMW Group, President of CAF-Development Bank of Latin America Enrique García, US Senator Tim Kaine, President of the Inter-American Development Bank Luis Alberto Moreno, Salvadoran entrepreneur Roberto Murray Meza, Guatemalan creator of CAPTCHA and Duolingo Luis von Ahn, journalist Lydia Cacho, and former World Bank President Robert Zoellick. More than 300 dignitaries attend each year. Find more details on past galas here.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
SAMANTHA POWER
Administrator, US Agency for International Development (USAID)
HONOREES
FELICIANO REYNA
Founder and Executive President, Acción Solidaria
Distinguished Leadership for the Americas Award for Humanitarian Service
BLANCA TREVIÑO
CEO, Softtek
Distinguished Leadership for the Americas Award for Civic Engagement
PRESENTERS
AMBASSADOR JULISSA REYNOSO
Former US Ambassador to Uruguay, Dialogue Member
US REPRESENTATIVE GREGORY MEEKS
New York’s 5th District
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
PATI JINICH
Chef, Author and Host of Pati’s Mexican Table