CHLI Announces 22nd Annual Gala and Leadership Awards: “Mosaic of Voices – Celebrating 250 Years of Vision, Culture, and Contributions”
WASHINGTON, D.C.—May 5, 2026—The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) will host its 22nd Annual Gala and Leadership Awards, “Mosaic of Voices – Celebrating 250 Years of Vision, Culture, and Contributions,” on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C. The event will convene Members of Congress, corporate leaders, diplomats, and community stakeholders to celebrate CHLI’s core values of leadership, community, and bipartisan leadership rooted in diversity of thought.
CHLI’s Annual Gala is the organization’s premier event, recognizing individuals whose leadership and commitment have advanced Hispanic leadership, strengthened communities, and inspired future generations of leaders. Funds from the evening support the CHLI Global Leaders Internship, Summer Law Fellowship, Communications Fellowship, Programs Internship, Lincoln Diaz-Balart Public Service Fellowship and the CHLI Level UP programs.
The 2026 honorees include:
His Excellency Daniel Noboa Azin, President of the Republic of Ecuador
– CHLI Founders International Leadership Award
U.S. Representative Gil Cisneros (CA)
– CHLI Leadership in Public Service Award
U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz (TX)
– CHLI Leadership in Public Service Award
Sara Garcia, CHLI Class of 2018
– CHLI Ambassador Award
The evening will feature a reception, formal program, dinner, and awards presentation, followed by a post-gala reception. America 250 Chairwoman Rosie Rios will deliver the invocation, and the Bell Multicultural High School ROTC will present the colors.
“CHLI is proud to honor these distinguished leaders whose service and dedication reflect our mission to advance leadership, community, and bipartisan leadership for the Hispanic community,” said CHLI Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “Their leadership continues to inspire future generations to engage in public service and civic life.”
CHLI’s Gala has a longstanding tradition of recognizing influential leaders from across the Americas. In 2025, CHLI honored His Excellency Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, with the CHLI Founders International Leadership Award, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio (view his remarks here), who received the CHLI Lifetime Leadership Award, and U.S. Representatives María Elvira Salazar and Juan Vargas, who were recognized with the CHLI Leadership in Public Service Award.
Sponsors of the 22nd Annual Gala and Leadership Awards include:
Our Platinum Gala Chair Sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company; Platinum Sponsor Bristol Myers Squibb; Gold Sponsors: Altria; Amazon; American Airlines; PMI l U.S.; Reynolds; T-Mobile; Wells Fargo; Silver Sponsors: Akin; American Beverage; Amgen; Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck; Business Roundtable; Capital One; General Motors; Google; Haleon; Intuit; KKR; Pacific Gas & Electric Company; Target; The Home Depot; Tyson Foods; UnitedHealth Group; Verizon; Walmart; Bronze Sponsors: Johnson & Johnson; Oportun; and Mentor Sponsors: AARP; Bank of America; BP; Charter Communications; Chevron; Ford; The LIBRE Initiative; National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA); Pfizer; Reworld; Uber.
For sponsorship opportunities or additional information, please contact Maytee Sanz at msanz@chli.org.
Media should RSVP here to attend.
ABOUT CHLI
The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization founded by Members of Congress and corporate leaders to advance economic prosperity with a focus on social responsibility and global competitiveness. CHLI is dedicated to fostering awareness of the diversity of thought, heritage, and values of Americans of Hispanic descent.