BREAKING NEWS:

Richard L. Zaldivar Honored by Latino Behavioral Health Institute for His Leadership in Promoting Wellness and Prevention of Illness in the Latino Community

Los Angeles, CA - Community leader and founder of The Wall Las Memorias Project, Richard L. Zaldivar was recognized last Friday, September 16th for decades of community service and leadership in addressing health issues such as HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and mental health. The award was presented the 17th Annual Latino & Behavioral Health Conference in downtown Los Angeles. The theme of this year's nationwide conference was From Margin to Mainstream.

Zaldivar was the 17th recipient of the prestigious LBHI Honor Roll Award. "Richard Zaldivar has contributed to the advancement of social justice for Latinos in this country," states Ed Viramontes, Executive Director of El Centro De Amistad and board member of Latino Behavioral Health Institute, adding, "He has been an outstanding leader in the field of human service."

Richard Zaldivar called on the conference of Latino mental health professionals to become educated, engaged and tolerant in providing mental health services to the Latino LGBT community and to those living with HIV.

In accepting the award, Richard Zaldivar stated "I accept this award for the millions of people who live in silence, for those who question their sexuality, for those who have died from AIDS and for those who live with the stigma of HIV. Zaldivar then went on to speak about his personal battle of alcoholism and how his life in sobriety helped him lead the effort to build the only AIDS Monument in the nation. Zaldivar closed by stating, "As Latinos, we are often expected to sit together at dinner time. When one member is not there, then the family is incomplete. It is time that we fill the void at supper. It is time to reach out to our missing brothers and sisters and bring them to take their rightful place at the table. Bring them home."

Zaldivar founded The Wall-Las Memorias Project in 1993 with a mission to build an AIDS monument to honor people who have passed from AIDS. He believed that an AIDS Monument would create a needed opportunity to address the cultural stigma, denial and shame that contributes to HIV and AIDS in our community. Under his leadership, The Wall Las Memorias Project has developed innovative programs to reach out to key Latino populations and institutions.

Richard L. Zaldivar's name is now included in a prestigious list of previous recipients of this recognition which include Cesar Chavez, Edward R. Roybal, Luis Valdez, and Father Greg Boyle, to name a few. 

To book Richard Zaldivar as a speaker for your next event, call 310-937-2789 or e-mail speakers@bestkeynotes.com

The Wall-Las Memorias Project will sponsor their 5th annual Latinos, Faith, Culture, HIV & Mental Health Conference on Monday, October 24th. The conference will provide HIV/AIDS education, substance abuse, targeting California faith leaders and congregants. This year's theme is Our Women in the Fight for the Truth. For more information, please contact Lorena Velasquez at (323) 257-1056 ext. 23 or at lvelasquez@thewalllasmemorias.org.

The Wall-Las Memorias Project is dedicated to promoting wellness and preventing illness among Latino populations affected by HIV/AIDS by using the inspiration of The AIDS Monument as a catalyst for social change.

To book Richard Zaldivar as a speaker for your next event, call 310-937-2789 or e-mail speakers@bestkeynotes.com



Richard L. Zaldivar (left) accepts recognition from
LBHI Boardmember, Ed Viramontes (right)

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The Art of Living with Enthusiasm:A Reception Celebrating the Life and Times of Sonny Melendrez

San Antonio - September 8, 2011. An art show, book signing, and presentation by keynote speaker, author, actor, and radio and TV personality Sonny Melendrez were held today at the Bismarck Studios Contemporary Fine Art Gallery in San Antonio, Texas. 

    Sonny Melendrez, legendary radio and TV personality, keynote speaker, author, actor and San Antonio icon, for the first time presented his never before exhibited personal art work and life artifacts at a reception in his honor. The event, Celebrating the Life and Times of Sonny Melendrez, inspired by his book, “The Art of Living With Enthusiasm,” allowed an up close and private experience with the much beloved San Antonio native.

    Sonny Melendrez shared stories, brought to life by the priceless memories that graced the walls of the Bismarck Studio, signed books, and enjoyed moments of laughter with the gathered guests.

 For most San Antonians, the fact that Sonny Melendrez  is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or was the host of a Disney Series is probably less important than remembering him as the always uplifting radio host on KTFM, Magic 105, KLUP, and KAHL morning radio shows. The City of San Antonio named the  Sonny Melendrez Community Center in his honor for his countless efforts on behalf disadvantaged youth and families and more than 1500 motivation school presentations.

    For over 20 years, Sonny Melendrez has hosted San Antonio’s most prestigious events and welcomed dignitaries and royalty from around the world from Sylvester Stallone to Princess Grace of Monaco.

    So what’s in the future for Sonny Melendrez ?  He is developing a television project for PBS based on his book, “The Art of Living With Enthusiasm!, working on a children’s book and TV series for his original character, Bono Duck, traveling the country delivering inspiring keynote presentations, and launching a new daily radio show on The Rose 99.9 FM.

    As Sonny Melendrez likes to say when asked about his adventure-filled life, “I’m almost halfway there!”

Career highlights:

-Twice named Billboard Magazine’s “Radio Personality of the Year”, he is included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the Top 100 Radio Personalities of All Time. In 2004 he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
- Melendrez has hosted drive time shows at KMPC, KFI, KMGG, KIIS, and KRLA Radio in Los Angeles and has been a spokesperson for companies such as Disney, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Sears and Sprint. In the 1970s, he guest hosted American Top 40 on several occasions.
- He hosted the award winning children’s series, You And Me, Kid, on the Disney Channel, and has hosted or been a featured keynote speaker at The White House Hispanic Heritage Awards, the National “Just Say No To Drugs” Rally at the Washington Monument, the USO 50th Anniversary Gala at the Ambassador’s Palace in Paris, France, and over 5,000 events worldwide.
- In 1985 he created the children’s version of “We Are The World” in Los Angeles where over 1500 children participated in the recording and video, and proceeds from record sales benefited USA For Africa. Sonny received a Grammy nomination for “Best Children’s Recording.”

- Sonny Melendrez appeared in Rocky II starring Sylvester Stallone, has provided the voices of several characters in Hanna-Barbera’s The Jetsons cartoon series, played opposite Walter Matthau as the voice of Bob Cratchet in the animated TV classic.
-  He was chosen from a field of over 140,000 as the new voice of the Parkay Margarine Talking Tub and provided the voice of Jerry Seinfeld for ActiVision.

To book award winning speaker, Sonny Melendrez, for your next event. Call 310-937-2789 or click here.

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Richard Zaldivar Named Hero At Home

KTLA named Richard Zaldivar, its "Hero At Home," for his work as a California community advisor, founder and executive director of The Wall Las Memorias Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education on HIV/AIDS.

Book your event with Richard Zaldivar today by calling 310-937-2789 or e-mailing speakers@bestkeynotes.com