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The National Football League and its teams will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) with a series of special events.
All NFL teams will enhance the celebration with local efforts throughout the month including designated home games in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and local community outreach.
The celebration begins with all 16 week 3 home teams – Arizona, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Miami, Minnesota, New Orleans, Oakland, San Diego, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington -- hosting Hispanic Heritage Month games at their stadiums. In-stadium elements include on-field Fútbol Americano stencils as well as wall banners and goal post wraps.
In Baltimore, U.S. Army Lieutenant General Rhett Hernandez will perform the coin toss. Hernandez is the Commanding General, U.S. Army Cyber Command/Second Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. And Javier Colón, winner of the 2011 season of NBC's The Voice, will perform the national anthem. The Ravens will also recognize the Carneros de Guadalajara, the Tochito flag football championship team from Mexico, during pregame. The team will take part in a tournament with three Baltimore-area flag football teams on September 22 at Anne Arundel Community College.
For the 2012 celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the NFL and Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) have partnered for the second annual NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards. The awards recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market. Each award recipient will be recognized in-stadium at a Hispanic Heritage game in their local market. Each award recipient will select an organization of their choice that serves the local Hispanic community to receive a $3,000 donation.
A national spotlight will shine on the NFL's celebration during Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football* broadcasts which will highlight in-stadium elements as well as community events.
The New York Giants take on the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, September 20 (8:00 PM ET, NFL Network). Roberto Abramowitz will call the action in Spanish on NFL Network via SAP (Secondary Audio Program).
The New England Patriots face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night, September 23 (8:00 PM ET, NBC) with Telemundo's sportscasters Rene Giraldo and Edgar Lopez providing coverage in Spanish via SAP.
The Green Bay Packers take on the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, September 24 (8:30 PM ET, ESPN and ESPN Deportes). The broadcast team for ESPN Deportes, the official Spanish-language television home for all Monday Night Football* games, will feature Spanish-language Emmy-nominated play-by-play voice Álvaro Martín, analyst and former NFL kicker Raúl Allegre, and sideline reporter John Sutcliffe.
On Saturday, September 29, Telemundo will air a NFL Hispanic Heritage Month special, Fútbol Americano Celebrando la Herencia Hispana,* at 2:00 PM/1:00 PM Central in select markets highlighting the NFL's Hispanic players.
Teams created additional events which include:
The Arizona Cardinals will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on September 23. The festivities begin outside of University of Phoenix Stadium on the plaza with the Bud Light Pregame Kickoff and Carne Asada where six local fans will compete in a barbeque competition. The Cardinals Spanish radio team of Rolando Cantu, former Cardinals Guard and first Mexican born player (non-kicker) in the NFL, and Gabriel Trujillo, Spanish voice of the Arizona Cardinals, will broadcast live from the event, up until kickoff. The national anthem will be performed by local talent Nicole Jimenez and local state representative Ruben Gallego will be presented with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award in the pregame. In addition to themed messaging during the game including banners, PA announcements and videos, a performance by Alma de Folklore Y Musica will entertain fans during halftime.
In Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, on September 25, the Atlanta Falcons will host an Atlanta Falcons First Down for Fitness presented by Kimberly-Clark visit at Berkmar Middle School in Lilburn with 6th and 7th grade students participating in a Gatorade Junior Training Camp alongside Atlanta Falcons players and cheerleaders. On September 30, the Atlanta Falcons Fitness Flag Crew will be comprised of students from Lake Forest Elementary School. In addition, the Atlanta Falcons will recognize Luis Aguilar, Commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award. Finally, on October 2, members from 15 different Metro Atlanta Boys & Girls Clubs will compete in an annual salsa-tasting event. Made by members of each club, many of the salsa dishes include vegetables grown in their very own community gardens. Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders will serve as guest judges. Participants will get the chance to learn salsa dancing from professional dancers at the event.
The Baltimore Ravens hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month/Worldwide Day of Play football clinic on September 18 to encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles among youth. The clinic was held for 200 predominantly Hispanic children, ages 5-11, at Du Burns Arena in Baltimore. Several Ravens players, including LB Brendon Ayanbadejo, TE Ed Dickson and TE Dennis Pitta, were on hand to demonstrate the fundamentals of football. A raffle was held at the end of the clinic where one participant was selected to win tickets to the Ravens game Sunday night. At the September 23 game, the Ravens will honor the late José Orlando Ruíz, founder of Education-Based Latino Outreach, and his family with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award. The Ravens will also recognize the Carneros de Guadalajara, the Tochito flag football championship team from Mexico, during pregame. The team will take part in a tournament with three Baltimore-area flag football teams on September 22 at Anne Arundel Community College. Javier Colón, winner of the first season of NBC's The Voice, will perform the national anthem. U.S. Army Lieutenant General Rhett Hernandez will perform the coin toss. Cheerleaders will perform to Latin songs throughout the game and the Marching Ravens will perform a Latin song at halftime.
The Buffalo Bills will honor Dr. Francisco M. Vasquez, President and CEO of Child and Family Services, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 30. Additional elements of the Bills Hispanic Heritage Month celebration will include the donation of 40 game tickets and Fútbol Americano tee shirts to the West Side Community Center in Buffalo on behalf of Dr. Vasquez. The Bills will also place Hispanic Heritage Month banners on the stadium ringwall, include a full page Hispanic Heritage Month advertisement in the game program, and make P.A. announcements in regards to Hispanic Heritage Month throughout the game. Dr. Vazquez's award will be highlighted in Bills Digest and on BuffaloBills.com.
The Carolina Panthers will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month during their September 20 game. Astrid Chirinos, Executive Director of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, will take part in the coin toss. The invocation will be provided by Pastor Luis Tejera of Hickory Grove Baptist Church with a national anthem performance by Leydy Bonilla. The Panthers will honor Pilar Rocha-Goldberg, President and CEO of El Centro Hispano, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game. On September 22, the team will host a Fútbol Americano Fiesta in partnership with the YMCA.
The Chicago Bears will honor Ricardo Estrada, President and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 23. Bill Mendieta will perform the national anthem. Mendieta plays Ricky Ricardo in the Broadway in Chicago show "I Love Lucy." In addition, Bears G Roberto Garza will visit Neal Math & Science Academy in Waukegan on September 25 for a NFL PLAY 60 event with 7th and 8th graders.
The Cincinnati Bengals honored Alfonso Cornejo, President of AC & Consulting Associates, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 16. Cornejo served as Honorary Captain and was introduced on the field prior to the coin toss as the Bengals recognized Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Cleveland Browns will support the City of Cleveland Hispanic Heritage Month activities throughout the month. The Browns hosted a PLAY 60 Scholastic Read & Rise event at Buhrer Elementary School on September 17. The Browns will honor Marc Sanchez, Partner with Frantz Ward, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 23 during pregame festivities. Representatives from local charitable Hispanic organizations will help form the gauntlet for the Browns player introductions. Tailgate Terrace, a fan engagement area at the stadium, will feature a designated area focused on Hispanic Heritage. The Browns will provide local Hispanic organizations with tickets to attend this game.
The Dallas Cowboys will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on September 23. To deepen the game day celebration, the Cowboys have partnered with Telemundo to enrich the Hispanic Heritage outreach. Gameday elements highlighting Hispanic culture include former Dallas Cowboys Tony Casillas serving as Honorary Team Captain and assisting with the coin toss, pregame plaza performances from Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklórico in Dallas, a special presentation of Latin American flags from Ballet Folklórico Festival of San Antonio during the national anthem performed by Star De Azlan and the presentation of a large American field-flag from Arlington ISD students representing Sam Houston, Bowie and Arlington High Schools. Additional celebratory elements include Telemundo personalities featured on the plazas and in-game, performances from Mariachi bands and Ballet Folklorico troupes at stadium entrances, in-game Telemundo messaging on the Cowboys videoboard and celebratory Hispanic Heritage Month graphics and signage throughout the stadium. The Cowboys will honor Luis Spinola, a nominee for Telemundo's annual Hispanic Business Salute with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award prior to kickoff. The September 23 game is presented by Miller Lite. The Cowboys, Miller Lite and the ¡Adelante! U.S. Educational Leadership Fund are partnering for the second year to support educational programming and resources for Hispanics through the "Scoring for Education" campaign which is working to develop the next generation of Latino leadership. On September 18, the Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club presented by UnitedHealthcare hosted a Futbol Americano Play 60 Youth Clinic with Fuel Up to Play 60 nutritional counseling at John Haley Elementary School in Irving. The Dallas Cowboys and GlaxoSmithKline also kicked off the construction of the team's Play 60 Fitness Zone in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas at Williams Preparatory.
The Denver Broncos will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their September 23 game with themed messaging including field banners, scoreboard graphics and PA announcements. The Broncos will also recognize Dan Sandos, President of Hispanic Annual Salute, as the recipient of the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award during pregame. The team will host Broncos En Español at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 19. The free event will feature players, alumni, cheerleaders, on-field activities, 101 chalk talks and more, all translated in Spanish. The team has also launched Facebook.com/BroncosFanaticos, an official team Facebook page with information on promotions, contests and events, all in Spanish.
The Detroit Lions will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on September 30. The Lions will honor Angela Reyes, Executive Director of the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game.
The Green Bay Packers will honor Dr. Enrique E. Figueroa, Associate Professor & Director of the Roberto Hernández Center, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 30.
The 2012 Houston Texans Hispanic Heritage Day presented by XFINITY on September 30 will be headlined by The Voice 2011 finalist Vicci Martinez, who will perform the national anthem. In addition, the Texans will have Houston-native and 2012 Olympic bronze-medalist Marlen Esparza lead the team on the field as the Home Field Team Captain. Mariachi and folkloric dancers will perform at all stadium entrances during pregame. The Texans will honor Dr. Laura G. Murillo, President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game. The week leading up to the game, the Texans will host an NFL PLAY 60 Scholastic Read & Rise Event with a Houston Texans player at Worsham Elementary.
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the Indianapolis Colts hosted a free football camp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center for more than 200 Hispanic youth on September 11. In addition, the Colts took part in La Plaza's FIESTA on September 15. The team had a PLAY 60 Zone and Colts Cheerleaders onsite at the largest Latino festival in Indiana. The Colts will honor Rafael Sanchez, Partner with Bingham-Greenbaum Doll, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 23. At the game, a mariachi band will also perform pregame for fans inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
University of Florida, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 30.
The Kansas City Chiefs will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on September 30. In stadium, the Chiefs will feature game highlights with play-by-play calls from its Spanish-language radio partner, La GranD. Additionally, they will create a customized video on the Hispanic radio partnership on kcchiefs.com. The Chiefs will honor Ramón Murguía, owner of Murguía Law, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game. This season, the Chiefs will bring the PLAY 60 Scholastic Read & Rise event to the schools of the Guadalupe Center beginning on October 9 when the Chiefs Tight Ends corps visit Alta Vista Middle School. The Chiefs players will encourage the students to read, Play 60 and to mentor their younger siblings and relatives.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, the Miami Dolphins Foundation has teamed up with NFL Play 60 and Scholastic to host Read & Rise at Miami Gardens Elementary. The school will be presented a check pregame on September 23. Every student at the school will receive a $10 voucher for the book fair held the week of September 24. The Dolphins will kick off the week with a Pep Rally on September 25, where players, cheerleaders, and TD will present the check from the Miami Dolphins Foundation and encourage the kids to bring their families to Family Night on September 27. Family night will consist of a Miami Dolphins Junior Training Camp, a Family Literacy Workshop in English and Spanish to discuss good habits at home, and a Family Build a Book Activity. In addition, the Dolphins have invited 20 students from ASPIRA to attend their Hometown Huddle event at Dave and Busters on October 2nd. This group was selected by United Way of Miami Dade County to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. The kids will be playing interactive games with players, members from our Women's Organization, cheerleaders and TD. The Dolphins will also recognize Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on September 23. The team will honor Gloria and Emilio Estefan with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award.
The Minnesota Vikings will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on September 23 with in-stadium video and PA announcements, and a print ad in the Vikings Playbook. Pregame festivities include a live performance by a local Latino group on the Vikings Plaza. The Vikings will also honor Patricia Tototzintle, CEO of Casa de Esperanza, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game.
The Patriots honored Alexandra Oliver-Davila, Executive Director of Sociedad Latina, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award during a pregame ceremony at their game on September 16 with Pro Football and PatriotsHall of Famer Andre Tippett.
The New Orleans Saints will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their September 23 game with Hispanic Heritage-themed electronic messaging throughout the game and on-field signage. The LatiNOLA group will participate as one of the gameday volunteer crews who will also receive tickets to the game. During a pregame on field recognition, the Saints will honor Kathia Duran, Executive Director of Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award recipient.
The Giants celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month during their September 16 game when they honored Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Executive Vice President for Multicultural Markets and Engagement at AARP, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game. On September 25, the Giants will be on hand for a check presentation to the Ironbound Community Corporation. The check is part of the NFL Grassroots Grant program, a partnership between the NFL Youth Football Fund and Local Support Initiatives Corporation, where local community groups can apply for a grant to restore athletic fields located in underserved neighborhood of NFL markets. This year, Ironbound Stadium in Newark, NJ, is the recipient of this $200,000 grant. The Giants will host a PLAY 60 clinic at the Ironbound Recreation Center following the check presentation.
The New York Jets are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on September 30 presented by JetBlue Airways. El Diario, ESPN Deportes along with JetBlue support Jets Hispanic initiatives with a variety of cultural entertainment and activities that reflect the vibrant diversity of New York's Latino population. Pregame, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company will have a food truck sampling tripletas and a food eating contest every half hour. Fans can also enjoy a live ESPN Deportes Nueva York 1050AM radio broadcast from the stadium. Popular singer, songwriter and WWE personality Lilian Garcia will energize the crowd as the national anthem and halftime performer. The Jets will also honor Shirley Rodriguez Remeneski, President of 100 Hispanic Women and Chairperson of Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center's Board of Trustees, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game.
The Oakland Raiders will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with a Gatorade Junior Training Camp event at a local school in Oakland. Raiders LB Aaron Curry will participate in this camp, interacting with and instructing students. The Raiders will continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on September 23 with the 11th annual Fiesta Latina game. Fiesta Latina will offer a variety of Hispanic musical performances before the game, including mariachis and a traditional Ballet Folklorico show. Special events during the game include Spanish radio calls played in-stadium, the presentation of flags from Spanish speaking countries, and a special in-game performance by the band WAR, which recently performed in Washington D.C. at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Anniversary Gala for Vice President Joe Biden and met with President Barack Obama. The Raiders will also honor Olga Talamante, Executive Director of the Chicana Latina Foundation, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game.
The Eagles celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on August 9 with various in-game elements. The game started off with a welcome read in English and Spanish followed by a full screen highlighting the Eagles celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, including a feature for the video boards saluting Eagles Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo. During the game, Eagles President Don Smolenski presented the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award to Cynthia Figueroa, President and CEO of Congreso De Latinos Unidos. The Eagles also announced the introduction of the Eagles Spanish Radio Network, which will broadcast all Eagles games in Spanish.
The Pittsburgh Steelers celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on September 16. Pregame festivities included performances by Miguel's Mariachi Fiesta and Guaracha Latin Dance Band. The Steelers honored Ricardo Pérez, President/COO of Westinghouse Electric, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game. The Steelers enhanced the game experience with PA reads, graphics and Latin songs during the game. They also recognized the team's Mexican radio partner.
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, St. Louis Rams players and staff will visit the Fairmont City Library Center for a day of PLAY 60 activities including football drills, Latin dance lessons and a performance by a local dance troupe on September 25. The Library Center functions as a city nucleus for a village without a school or city park. The Rams erected the village's first playground structure this past June. The Rams will honor Anthony Gonzalez-Angel, founder of the Gonzalez Companies, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 30.
The Chargers will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their September 23 game with halftime festivities featuring performances by Mariachi Real de San Diego and traditional ballet folklórico dancers from Chula Vista. The Chargers will honor Dr. Guadalupe Corona, Systemwide Director, Office of Latino Achievement Initiatives for Alliant International University, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game. Prior to game day, the Chargers hosted an all-school assembly at King Chávez Academy located in Barrio Logan on September 18 with players as part of their annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage. During the assembly the players presented a Chargers Play60 fitness check for $1,500 to the Principal of King Chávez Academy, and following the assembly, the players hosted 100 of the school's students for a Jr. Chargers Play60 Camp on the school grounds.
The 49ers celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on August 30. Gameday activities included a performance by the Herrera Sisters on the Bud Light Stage. The duo of Jaque Lynn and Elena Renee is one of the most popular bilingual acts in the Bay Area. The 49ers honored Susie M. Rivera, Director of High Touch Programs at Fresh Lifelines for Youth, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game.
The Seattle Seahawks will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on September 24. Pregame entertainment includes performances by Bailadores de Bronce and Mariachi Guadalajara de Seattle. An interactive football experience for fans and Hispanic heritage cultural exhibit will be on display at Touchdown City highlighting the impact of Hispanics on American society. Eight-year old Isabella Pasillas has been selected to perform the coin toss. The Seahawks have chosen Martitha May, Executive Director of the Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center, as the recipient of the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award. On September 11 and 13, the Seahawks hosted a PLAY 60 Scholastic Read & Rise event at Concord Elementary School in Seattle. Wide receiver's Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockette read to students and were on hand to help the children pick out their books. They also spoke to the children about the importance of getting 60 minutes of exercise a day as part of the NFL PLAY 60 campaign.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at their game on September 30. Former Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica will be featured during the pregame and the Buccaneers "team anthem" will be played in Spanish. The Buccaneers will honor Lilly Gonzalez, Vice President and General Manager of WVEA Univision and WFTT Telefutura, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award. Other in-stadium elements include a Hispanic heritage halftime show featuring ballroom dancers and cultural dance groups, Latino music throughout the game, and recognition of various local Latino groups over the PA. Tampa Bay Bucaneros t-shirts will be worn by Pewter Pirates, pregame flag holders, as well as sold in stadium. The Buccaneers will host Une la Bahia, a cocktail event for prominent leaders in the Latino community, on September 20. In addition, the team will host a PLAY 60 Scholastic Read & Rise event at Crestwood Elementary on September 25 and 26.
The Titans will honor Mercedes Almaraz, a volunteer at Conexión Américas, and her family with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at their game on September 23. A story chronicling the civic involvement of the Almaraz family will appear on the Titans website. During pregame festivities La Mascarada will perform a musical tribute and parade of masked figures honoring Hispanic history and tradition. The game will include themed messaging in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month including banners and LED ribbon board recognition. The Titans Cheerleaders will also perform to a variety of Hispanic themed music during the game.
The Washington Redskins will celebrate "Redskins Hispanic Heritage Week" at their game on September 23. In-stadium celebrations include a special Hispanic-themed halftime performance from the Junior Redskins Cheerleaders and a special rendition of the Redskins' fight song titled "Viva Los Redskins." The Redskins will also honor Maria Gomez, President and CEO of Mary's Center, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the game.
