Los Angeles, CA – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced today that among the honorees at the 2019 annual American Latino Influencer Awards (ALIAs) ceremony will be philanthropist and business leader Dorene Dominguez, who will receive the Legacy Award for her commitment to building opportunities to succeed for all. Ms. Dominguez will be honored during the event ceremony on Friday, December 6, 2019 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. 

“Dorene’s leadership in business, education, and economic development has had a lasting impact on students and communities across California and the country,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “We are honored to present her with the Legacy Award at this year’s ceremony to commemorate her work and vision that every student achieve success, regardless of background.”

“Throughout her career, Dorene Dominguez has been a champion for opening doors for the next generation of leaders in California and beyond,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “Her dedication to community development and serving others exemplifies the kind of leadership that only makes our nation stronger. We celebrate her entrepreneurial spirit and success with this award, and thank her for her unwavering commitment to helping others realize the American Dream.”

Ms. Dominguez is Chairwoman and CEO of Vanir Group of Companies, Inc. and the Founder and Chairwoman of Dominguez Dream, a foundation in memory of her late father working with elementary schools in underserved communities to empower children to achieve their full potential in literacy and S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). Over fifteen years of implementing programs across ten partner schools in California, Arizona, and Washington, Dominguez Dream has served nearly 145,000 students.

As a leader in the business community, Ms. Dominguez has been a strong advocate for professional development and creating economic opportunity for all. She is a current member and former Chairwoman of the University of Notre Dame Latino Studies Advisory Board, has worked with Nicholas Academic Centers to provide college counseling to high school students, and serves on the Board of Directors for the California Chamber of Commerce, numerous nonprofits, and organizations committed to economic development. For the past three years, Ms. Dominguez has been recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the “50 Most Powerful Latinas” for 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Presented by Target and AARP, the ALIAs recognizes Latinos and Latinas who have had a significant impact on our nation’s culture and society and whose stories are representative of the contributions of our community throughout American history. The event will take place on Friday, December 6, 2019 at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills. To attend, purchase tickets for the event here. For more information on the ALIAs and FRIENDS, please visit https://americanlatinomuseum.org/.