2018 American Dream Awards - Finalists Announced! Eight Danbury residents are in the running for four $2,000 awards!
The New American Dream Foundation Inc. (TNADF), a 501(c)(3) organization, will host and celebrate the 5th anniversary of its Annual American Dream Awards Gala on Saturday, September 22th, 2018 at 6:00 PM at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. The event features four award categories: Lifetime, Leadership, Veteran, and the American Dream Awards, recognizing community members who promote our nation’s rich immigrant history, highlighting the cultural, social, and economic contributions of all immigrants, and the core American values of equal opportunity, progress, and freedom in the areas of education and civic engagement.
The nomination process for the 2018 American Dream Awards began last February and ended on June 25. There are two categories to the awards that were open to the public for nomination: American Dream Person of the Year and American Dream Students of the Year.
Fifty-seven applications were received from nominees who were born in the U.S., and others who migrated to our community from 13 different countries.
2018 American Dream Awards Finalists:
Eight finalists in the running for the evening’s top honors, for the Person of the Year and the Students of the Year categories, will receive two tickets to attend the gala. The four winners, will be revealed at the gala, will receive $2,000 and the American Dream Awards statue, and will have their names permanently displayed on a plaque in Danbury City Hall honoring The New American Dream Foundation’s American Dream Awards.
The 2018 Person of the Year finalists for the $2,000 award are:
- Sandy Sanchez (Portugal, Danbury)
- Jose Nicolas Barcenas (Mexico, Danbury)
The 2018 Student of the Year finalists for three $2,000 scholarships are:
- Alexandra Charles (Haiti, Danbury)
- Christopher Rodriguez (Dominican Republic, Danbury)
- Leticia Quintino (Brazil/US, Danbury)
- Franklin Illescas (Ecuador, Danbury)
- Nary Rath (Cambodia/US, Danbury)
- Yago Zoccarato (Brazil, Danbury)
Honorees of the following categories were selected by The New American Dream Foundation:
Recognizes individuals whose life journey is the embodiment of the American Dream.
2018 American Dream Lifetime Achievement Award recipient:
Mr. Peter Hearty of the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center, and Celtic Cross Pipe & Drum of Danbury Presented by AARP Connecticut.
American Dream Leadership Award - It recognizes three individuals and/or organizations that have taken the lead in supporting members of our community in the three The New American Dream Foundation focus areas: health, education, and civic engagement.
2018 American Dream Leadership Award recipients:
- Honorable Thomas Saadi - Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs
- Mrs. Jessica Coronel - Assistant Director of Danbury High School, Danbury Public Schools Collaborative/Upward Bound Program
- Mr. Nelson Merchan - Connecticut Small Business Development Center Advisor
- Mrs. Patti Keckeisen - Co-Director of the National Parent Leadership Institute
American Dream Veteran Award
Honors individuals who are serving or have served in the Military made the commitment to defend our country before becoming an American citizen and faced many challenges along their journey to achieve their American Dream.
2018 American Dream Veteran Award recipient: Danbury Police Officer Hector Rodriguez
A Colombian native who became a citizen after serving in the U.S Army following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Tickets to the Gala
Tickets are $100.00 per person and include a cocktail hour, followed by a 3-course dinner, cash bar, dancing and the American Dream Awards ceremony filled with inspiring life stories celebrating the contributions that generations of immigrants have made to our region and to our country in the pursuit of their American Dream.
Tickets sales will benefit Mission Health Day - A day of free health screenings and other community services for the uninsured and the income challenged, hosted by Western Connecticut Health Network, Western Connecticut State University & The New American Dream Foundation. A portion of the ticket is tax deductible.
To buy tickets, tables and ads in the event booklet visit: www.tribunaamericandreamawards.com/shop