● Dora Zúñiga awarded Hispanic Woman of the Year
● Caroline Maria Dannecker awarded Hispanic Youth of the Year
● Pedro and Joan Martínez awarded Hispanic Family of the Year
By H. Nelson Goodson
October 12, 2014
Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, the United Migrant Opportunity Services, Inc. (UMOS) held their 34th annual Hispanic Awards Banquet at the Italian Community Conference Center. UMOS Chair of the Board of Directors, Juan José Lopez recognized UMOS President and CEO Lupe Martínez for his 45 years of service to the non-profit organization, a multi-services provider to the surrounding and statewide Latino community and residents.
The following information and biographies about this year recipients was provided by UMOS banquet program brochure.
José Ruano was honored as Hispanic Man of the Year for his years as a Miller Brewing Company, now MillerCoors representative and his ability to provide funding and support to almost every Hispanic non-profit organization locally and nationally, including El Centro Hispano, United Community Center, UMOS, La Casa de Esperanza, Esperanza Unida, Voces de la Frontera, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), National Hispanic Corporate Council, Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation (Mexican Fiesta), Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin and LULAC. Ruano who recently retired from MillerCoors is a former employee of UMOS. He was hired by former UMOS Executive Director Salvador Sánchez in 1971.
On Friday, Ruano was awarded the Roberto Hernández Center 2014 Hispanic Heritage Award at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Dora Zúñiga was honored as Hispanic Woman of the Year. Zúñiga is the Chief Executive Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County. She is a former staff member of UMOS and worked as an Area Coordinator. Zúñiga previously worked as the Executive Director of the Centro Hispano of Dane County from 1991-1997 and later was appointed as Director of Leadership Giving for United Way of Dane County. While in Dane County, Zúñiga became an advocate for change to help provide opportunities for the Hispanic community in Dane County and state. Her advocacy to advance the rights and interests of the Latino community earned her a well deserved recognition by the Madison Magazine, which named her one of Madison's 125 All Time Top Influential Madisonians.
Caroline Maria Dannecker was honored as Hispanic Youth of the Year. Dannecker has provided about 500 hours of community service and graduated with honors from the Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School. She is also a Trustee Scholarship Recipient and a Pinnacle Scholarship Recipient.
The Pedro and Joan Martínez family were recognized and honored as the Hispanic Family of the Year. The Martínez family have a history of community service and advocating for the rights of the Hispanic community. Pedro was the Director of the Office of the Hispanic Ministry for more than 25 years. He represented the Milwaukee Archdiocese at the national, regional and local events. His wife, Joan worked as a Spanish language teacher for the Milwaukee Public School District for 19 years. She advocated for early childhood teachers to obtain their bilingual/ESL certifications.
Their daughter, Rebeca López, is an attorney and received her J.D. degree at Marquette University and worked for former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D). Their two sons, Natanael Martínez is a graduate from UW-Madison with a degree in business and Chicano Studies. He works for Milwaukee's Southside Silver City organization. Samuel Martínez also graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in civil engineering.
Both Pedro and Joan were celebrating their 34th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday.
Both Pedro and Joan were celebrating their 34th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday.
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