Business leaders Deb Visconi and Sara Pena, union leader Adrian Orozco and former Giants star wide receiver Victor Cruz will be honored at the Carnaval Gala at Seton Hall University Oct. 24.
The event, sponsored by the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute, aims to bring together global leaders in numerous industries, including health care, sports, media, government, fashion, nonprofit and the philanthropy sectors to celebrate servant leadership and honor exceptional individuals and institutions that inspire and uplift Latino communities.
The annual JAULI gathering is part of Seton Hall’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and is designed to raise scholarship funds for JAULI’s mission: to advance, educate, and transform students in the next generation of servant leaders in our ever-changing global society.
Want to go?
For more information about the event, to become a sponsor, get a ticket or make a donation, contact Maddie Romano, director of experiential engagement, alumni engagement and Philanthropy, at madeline.romano@shu.edu or click here.
Seton Hall officials said the four are trailblazing figures selflessly have given of their talent, their time and their resources to uplift and support Latino/Hispanic communities and beyond in their personal and professional lives.
“Each year, the Gala brings together the Institute’s alumni, students, donors, friends and corporate partners to celebrate trailblazing Latino/a leaders and their accomplishments while highlighting the mission of the Institute,” JAULI Executive Director Lori Tarke said.
The organization began in 1974 as the Puerto Rican Institute.
In 2005, Joseph A and Carmen Ana Unanue’s vision was to establish JAULI’s new mission as a center of excellence on campus, dedicated to empowering Latino students through academic, cultural, and community programs while shining a light on Latino culture, bridges gaps in understanding about Latino heritage, and provides opportunities for Latino students to grow as compassionate servant leaders and achieve a rewarding education.
Joseph A. Unanue was the former CEO of Goya Foods, and his dream was to inspire students to reach their full potential within their chosen professional fields.
Tarke noted that the Institute has distributed $1.85 million in scholarships to more than 400 undergraduate and graduate students since 2005.
In 2024, JAULI helped support over 50 scholars from diverse backgrounds — many of whom are first-generation scholars — to attend Seton Hall.
“Sponsorships help drive the Institute’s mission and programming forward, allowing it to continue providing scholarships, community support and cultural programming for our university community,” she said.
Seton Hall alumna and Univision Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchor Damaris Diaz will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
A look at the honorees:
Esperanza Award: Victor Cruz
NFL Super Bowl Champion and Broadcaster Victor Cruz will receive the Esperanza (Hope) Award, which honors prominent Latino leaders who make a positive impact on our society and raises funding for student scholarships.
Cruz, who grew up in Paterson, is a recognized fashion icon and tastemaker. He has been recognized by Vanity Fair, GQ, AQ, Vogue and Sports Illustrated. He was the first athlete to design and release a lifestyle shoe with NIKE, the Air Trainer Cruz, and has also collaborated with 3×1, Ovadia and Sons and most recently French brand Pierre Hardy in the fashion industry.
Viva Award: Sara Peña
Peña will receive the Viva Award, which celebrates her philanthropic accomplishments over twenty years in service of the advancement of the Latino community with her work with non-profits, healthcare, government, and private organizations. A Newark native, she currently is director of external affairs at PESG, leveraging her leadership and talent to developing relationships through her considerable community outreach that is aligned with PSEG’s goals.
Deeply committed to youth development, Peña is the founder and president of the Boys to Leaders Foundation. She has garnered awards from respected organizations such as the Association of Latin American Law Students, the New Jersey Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the League of Woman Voters of New Jersey for her servant leadership.
Magno Award: Deb Visconi
Visconi is the CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, the largest hospital in New Jersey and the fourth largest publicly owned hospital in the country. She will receive the Magno Award, which acknowledges the positive impact Visconi’s achievements and service have had on the Latine community. In her more than three decades in healthcare, she has excelled in providing strategic direction, vision, and leadership.
Alumni Impact Award: Adrian Orozco
Orozco ’19 is the New Jersey Political Director for Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, the largest property service workers union in the country, representing 175,000 office cleaners, security officers, doormen, porters, maintenance workers, bus drivers and aides, window cleaners, school cleaners and food service workers in twelve states and Washington, D.C.
As the New Jersey political director for 32BJ, Orozco works to elect public officials who have the best interests of working families at the top of their agenda. In addition to overseeing the union’s electoral program, Orozco also manages the union’s legislative program and advances policies that protect and lift members and their families.
