CHICAGO, Illinois (September 15, 2023) — The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture released photos and video from its 10th Raices Gala, where Lin-Manuel Miranda bestowed the National Ceiba Award on international superstar and philanthropist Ricky Martin in the Museum's annual celebration of the rich heritage and contributions of the Puerto Rican community in the United States.
The Raices Gala, held Thursday Sept. 14, 2023 at Chicago's Galleria Marchetti, also presented National Ceiba Awards to the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, received by ICP Director Carlos Ruiz Cortez; and to the family of artist Rafael Tufiño, whose work can currently be seen at the Museum in its "Celebrating 100 Years of Rafael Tufiño" exhibition. The Three Kings Humanitarian Award was presented to Chicago Chefs Cook, represented by chefs Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe in Naperville, Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno, and James Beard-award winner Erick Williams of Virtue Restaurant, in recognition of the organization's philanthropic work raising funds for relief efforts in Puerto Rico as well as in Ukraine, Tigray, and Maui.
Martin joins the impressive roster of Puerto Rican actors, authors, artists, and philanthropists who have received the National Ceiba Award in the past, including Rita Moreno, Jimmy Smits, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Antonio Martorell, and Lin-Manuel Miranda himself.
The annual Raices Gala is the largest fundraising event of the year for the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, with proceeds supporting the museum's year-round mission to keep its exhibitions free and accessible to the public while promoting and preserving Puerto Rican art, culture, and history as well as furthering the museum's humanitarian efforts in Puerto Rico.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF PUERTO RICAN ARTS & CULTURE
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (3015 W. Division St., Chicago) is the only national museum outside of Puerto Rico dedicated to interpreting the arts and culture of the Puerto Rican people. Founded in 2000, it is housed in the historic landmark Humboldt Park Stables and Receptory, near the Paseo Boricua. For more information: https://nmprac.org/
ABOUT THE RICKY MARTIN FOUNDATION
The Ricky Martin Foundation (RMF) believes in inclusivity, and that all rights are human rights. Through programs and partnerships it educates, protects, and advocates for vulnerable communities, and will leave the world a better place for our children.
RMF denounces human trafficking and educates about its existence through research and community initiatives, anchored in the defense of children and youth rights. Because the risk of human trafficking is tremendously heightened after any natural disaster, for over a decade RMF has also been a first responder: following the tsunami in Thailand (2004), the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile (2020), Hurricanes Irma and Maria (2017) which decimated its home island of Puerto Rico, and most recently Hurricane Fiona (2022).
During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, in collaboration with like-minded partners, RMF procured and distributed desperately needed and lifesaving PPE to front line workers in more than 40 hospitals in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the hardest hit areas in the U.S. As a continuation of its ongoing pandemic response, the Foundation ran a COVID-19 vaccination clinic from its home base of Centro Tau in Loiza, Puerto Rico. For more information: rickymartinfoundation.org/en/ .
