Last updated on December 13th, 2024
The owners of Northgate González Market, a California Latino-themed grocery chain, launched “Juntos” a campaign to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring community and business leaders and donating $40,000 to nonprofits in Southern California.
The newly created Juntos Award salutes outstanding leaders who uplift the Hispanic community through their humanitarian and philanthropic contributions. Visit the new landing page for more information at northgatemarket.com/juntos.
“It is through these trying times we realize just how much our communities are in need. Many people are out of work and struggling just to put food on the table,” said Oscar González, co-president of Northgate Market. “For the past 40 years, our company has worked side-by-side with the community, giving back whenever possible. These honorees inspire and remind us nothing is impossible if we all work together – Juntos.”
Giving back to the community has been part of Northgate Market’s DNA from the beginning. Throughout the pandemic, the company has donated food to families at drive-thru food banks, to frontline workers in hospitals and fire departments and has awarded more than $215,000 in scholarships to local students.
The 2020 honorees of the Northgate Market Juntos Award: Jose Mejia, regional account manager, 7Up; Lou Correa, U.S. member of Congress, 46th District; Blanca Melendrez, executive director, UC San Diego Center for Community Health; Rose Espinoza, founder/executive director, Rosie’s Garage Nonprofit; Teresa Samaniego, VP of diversity and community engagement for KABC-TV; Framroze “Fram” Virjee, president, Cal State Fullerton; Michelle Diaz, counselor, Pledge Center at Katella High School; Bricia Lopez, cookbook author and entrepreneur; Mario Cuevas, Mexican Consul, Orange County; John Echeveste, CEO, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes; Clemente Gonzalez, market head of community activation for Aetna; Barbara Jimenez, MPH, director, Central and South Region; Ofelia Valdez-Yeager, city of Riverside longtime volunteer and former school board president; Vicente Cid, Bimbo Bakeries USA; Gil de Cardenas, CEO at Cacique Inc.; Pauline Cazares, community volunteer/ owner, Cazares Design; Edward “Eddie” Martinez, executive director, Latino Equality Alliance; Dr. America Bracho, executive director, Latino Health Access; the Rev. Michael Kennedy, SJ; Patty Rodriguez, Lil’ Libros publisher and radio personality.
Organizations receiving the cash awards include: Latino Health Access, America Diabetes Association, OC, Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative, Rosie’s Garage, Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation, UrbanLife San Diego, Harada House Foundation, LA County Fire Dept Foundation, Girasoles En Marcha, San Diego Hunger Coalition, Comisión de Salud Fronteriza México-Estados Unidos, Immigrants Rising, The Dominguez Dream, Feeding America, Latino Equality Alliance, Santa Ana College Foundation, SAC Students for Success Fund, CSUF Foundation, Titan Dreamers and Male Success Initiative, Conexiones Educativas, Immigration Resource Center, El Monte Resource Association, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and LA Music & Art School.
Founded in 1980, Northgate González Market is an authentic, family-owned and operated Hispanic supermarket chain with 41 stores in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego counties. Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Northgate Market maintains its cultural heritage by offering its customers the best quality and freshest foods and personalized service.
