It’s been more than a month since we started celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, but at HCCMO the celebration continues. We have worked hard on many plans to showcase and promote the economic growth of Hispanic businesses in Central Florida. Perhaps you haven’t heard about the many opportunities and outreach we have done to solidify ourselves within the community? Well here are just a few:
Orlando International Airport Exhibit Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month:
Travelers entering through the Orlando International Airport this week were the first to enjoy a new art display celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. In collaboration with Hispanic Heritage Committee of Greater Orange County and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, 9 paintings were installed to showcase the work of various artists who responded to the call. The name of the exhibit was “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope”. Additional pieces are also on display as part of a collaboration between the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando and the Colombian Consulate in Orlando.
Special Edition Newsletter: We had the opportunity to release our inaugural special edition newsletter. Hispanic Heritage Month was the perfect time for its debut because it allowed us to share great stories about some of our members, which included messages filled with courage, bravery, and resilience.
Business Opportunity Scholarship: We partnered with our Trustee, Florida Technical College (FTC) to award a full-ride scholarship for their “Reach Higher” program. The program helps promote Latino entrepreneurship in the United States. The recipient, Gladys Sherpa, is the perfect example of the impact Hispanic entrepreneurs make on the community, and they are the reason why we at HCCMO continue to work on our mission to drive economic growth and strengthen Hispanic businesses and entrepreneurs in Central Florida.
It was a pleasure to have the Orlando Magic and Florida Blue host us during Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanics and U.S. Latinos. We proudly celebrated together on October 13th at a Business After Hour networking event, where we were joined by some of our members and ambassadors.
As September drew to a close, we received the exciting news that Gaby Ortigoni, our President and CEO, was ranked No.11 among Orlando’s 50 Most Influential People in Business for 2021. A well-deserved recognition that drives us to continue maintaining the highest quality of standard in everything we offer to our members and the entire Central Florida Hispanic community.
To end the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, we will host HOLA @ the Park, the first Hispanic event hosted in the City of St. Cloud. It will be a special day that will include business vendors, our interactive Kids Zone, delicious food, live music, networking, fun, and entertainment. The perfect event for the entire family!
To add to the excitement, during Hispanic Heritage month, HCCMO had the highest increase in memberships than in the last 18 months.
We are happy, grateful, and ready for what the future holds. Stay tuned to our social media and newsletter as we prepare for the Don Quijote Awards!