Latina Award Winner: Sonia Perez

**Latina Award Winner: Sonia Perez**
	Long Island Cares is proud of our very own Latino Award winner, Sonia Perez! Long Island's only Hispanic radio station La Fiesta hosted the First Annual Latino Awards on February 4, 2010 at the Rumba Sky Night Club in Hempstead NY. The gala, sponsored by Caribaya Rum, honored Long Island's top 50 Latino leaders in business, entertainment and government. The awards were hosted by Vic Latino, John Caracciolo and Dr. Lloyd D. Landsman. Several hundred people attended the event. Congratulations, Sonia!
SONIA PEREZ Sonia Perez was born in Puerto Rico and came to the United States at the age of 17. Sonia is currently a single parent of four children, Lilliam, Erik, Priscilla and Jacqueline. Sonia began her career with Long Island Cares, Inc., The Harry Chapin Food Bank in January 2000, working in the Agency Relations Department as an Associate. In May of 2002, Sonia was promoted to Agency Relations Coordinator. This position requires Sonia to be out in the field regularly, visiting Long Island Cares’ numerous member agencies (soup kitchens, shelters, food pantries, day cares and congregate residential sites) to evaluate nutritional and food safety needs and compliance with general food bank regulations as well as state and federal regulations and Feeding America. Sonia was Long Island Cares’ first bilingual employee in the Agency Relations Department and her language skills allowed Long Island Cares the opportunity to better serve its Hispanic populations. Many times Sonia finds herself in multiple departments offering assistance with translations and has been extremely helpful in the First Stop Pantry, an on-site triage pantry located in the warehouse of Long Island Cares. Sonia is certified by both the Nassau and Suffolk County Departments of Health as a Food Safety Manager and currently participates on the New York State Hunger Prevention Nutrition Assistance Advisory Board. Well loved by both the agencies she visits as well as her Long Island Cares’ colleagues, she enjoys her free time visiting with family, gardening, dancing!		From: longislandlatinoawards@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 11:22 AM To: Sonia Perez Subject: Long Island Latino Awards Ms. Sonia Perez Agency Relations Coordinator Long Island Cares Dear Ms. Perez: We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you for serving the Hispanic community on Long Island with such pride and dignity for so many years. We serve on the Board of Directors of the region’s only Hispanic Radio Station LA Fiesta. The station broadcasts on three frequencies, 98.5 FM 101.5, and 96.9 FM. We would like to honor you at Long Island's first annual Latino awards. The Caribaya Award is being bestowed to the top 50 Latino leaders that have made a difference in the health, safety and well being of Hispanic Long Islanders. The award is being presented on Thursday February 4, 2010 at RUMBA SKY NITE CLUB. It is located at 19 NORTH FRANKLIN AVE in HEMPSTEAD NY. The event is from 6pm – 9pm. We expect over 500 of the regions most influential Hispanic leaders and dignitaries to attend. Hempstead is one of the largest Hispanic townships in the United States. The event is a VIP event and there is no cost for tickets. It is by invite only. To attend the event, you must RSVP at [deleted]. Please submit a photo and a profile to [deleted]. We are going to send it out to all the Long Island media as well as put it on the radio stations website. Again congratulations, looking forward to seeing you on the 4th of February. John Caracciolo CEO-President, La Fiesta Vic Latino Vice President, La Fiesta Lloyd D. Landsman MD Gala Chairman