AvantGarde Sponsors Hispanic 100 Foundation's A Night of Distinction Gala Honoring Legacy and Investing in Future Leaders

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Hispanic 100 Foundation's A Night of Distinction Gala served as a powerful reminder that leadership is measured not only by achievement, but by the opportunities we create for those who follow. Held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., and sanctioned by Freedom 250, the evening brought together distinguished leaders from business, public service, philanthropy, and the nonprofit community to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Latino trailblazers while investing in tomorrow's leaders.

Rebecca Contreras, CEO of AvantGarde LLC and a proud member of the Hispanic 100 Foundation Board of Directors, served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. AvantGarde was also honored to support the event as a sponsor, reinforcing the company's ongoing commitment to leadership development, education, and community impact.

The evening recognized six outstanding leaders with the American Legacy of Distinction Awards:

• Esai Morales – Arts & Entertainment

• Julio Gonzalez – Business

• Dr. Maria Alejandra Segura – Faith Advocacy & Service

• Dr. Antonia Novello – Public Health

• Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen – Public Service

• Anthony Muñoz – Sports

One of the evening's most meaningful accomplishments was raising more than $300,000 to provide scholarships and mentorship opportunities for 30 students in the Hispanic 100 Foundation's 2026 Mentor Program. Many of these students are the first in their families to pursue higher education, making this investment one that will create lasting impact for generations to come.

For Rebecca, the Foundation's mission reflects a lifelong commitment to opening doors through mentorship, education, and leadership. Whether through Girls of Legacy, AvantGarde, or her nonprofit service, she believes true success is measured not only by what we accomplish, but by how many lives we help change along the way.

Congratulations to this year's distinguished honorees, as well as to Mario Rodriguez, Executive Director Michelle Rose, the Hispanic 100 Foundation leadership, and everyone whose vision and dedication made this remarkable evening possible. Special recognition also goes to Elaine Coronado for creating an elegant and memorable celebration worthy of such a historic occasion.

As our nation marks this milestone, A Night of Distinction demonstrated that the American Dream continues to move forward when leaders invest in people, create opportunity, and inspire the next generation to dream even bigger.

To learn more about AvantGarde’s people-first mission and commitment to helping organizations and communities reach their fullest potential, visit our About page.

To learn more about the Hispanic 100 Foundation, its Mentor Program, and scholarship initiatives, visit:https://www.h100foundation.org

To learn more about the Hispanic 100 organization and its mission to advance Latino

leadership and service, visit:https://www.hispanic100.org