Leadership for the Americas Awards Gala

The Inter-American Dialogue’s Leadership for the Americas Awards Gala celebrates individuals and organizations committed to advancing democratic governance, social equity and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere. The annual event brings together top world leaders whose exceptional contributions have been instrumental in addressing the pressing challenges of our hemisphere. More than 400 guests attend the gala, comprising an elite audience from the highest levels of government, business, media and civil society.

2021 GALA 2019 GALA

2018 GALA 2017 GALA

2016 GALA 2015 GALA

2014 GALA

Testimonials

“The Dialogue is so important in its gathering of the great minds of this hemisphere to grapple with the relationships that have such deep roots but can always be stronger.”

– Senator Tim Kaine, Distinguished Leadership Award for Public Service 2014

“The Dialogue has had a very strong influence on some of the major and positive trends in Colombia and the hemisphere in the last decades. …the progress in fighting poverty, the progress in the rule of law, and what we have achieved are very compatible with what the Dialogue has always defended: economic growth and integration, democracy and the rule of law, and social equity.”

– Juan Manuel Santos, Nobel Peace Prize and President of Colombia, Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for Peace 2016

“[The Dialogue] may well be the most influential organization in Washington – reaching out to the Americas. I came to appreciate its steady commitment to illuminate what is happening in the Americas and the ways and means through which we may join forces in favor of a democratic, peaceful and more prosperous world.”

– Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Former President of Brazil, Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award 2017

Previous Honorees

2019 National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Social Equity Cirque Du Soleil \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Corporate Citizenship Alejandro Ramirez \| President, Fundación Cinepolis & Mexicanos Primeros \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Civic Engagement		2016 H.E. Juan Manuel Santos \| President of Colombia \| Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for Peace H.E. Enrique García \| President, CAF-Development Bank of America \| Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award BMW Group \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Corporate Social Responsibility
2018 Mr. Daniel Servitje \| Chairman & CEO, Grupo Bimbo \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Corporate Social Responsibility Ms. Esperanza Cueto \| Co-Founder, ComunidadMujer & President, Fundación Colunga Distinguished Leadership Award for Women’s Rights and Empowerment Mr. Richard Blanco \| Poet \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Outstanding Cultural Contribution		2015 H.E. Felipe González \| Former President of the Government of Spain \| Distinguished Leadership for the Americas Award Mr. Daniel Chávez Morán \| Founder, Grupo Vidanta & Fundación Vidanta \| Distinguished Leadership for the Americas Award
2017 H.E. Fernando Henrique Cardoso \| Former President of Brazil \| Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award H.E. Luis Alberto Moreno \| President, Inter-American Development Bank \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Social Equity Mr. Roberto Murray Meza \| Chairman, Grupo AGRISAL & Founding President, Fundemas \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Civic Engagement Dr. Luis von Ahn \| Co-Founder & CEO, reCAPTCHA & Duolingo Computer Science Professor, Carnegie Mellon University \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Innovation and Social Impact		2014 Mr. Salvador Paiz \| Co-Chairman, Grupo PDC & Chair, FunSEPA \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Civic Engagement The Honorable Tim Kaine \| US Senator, Virginia \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Public Service in the Americas

IV Leadership for the Americas Awards Gala

2019 National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Social Equity Cirque Du Soleil \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Corporate Citizenship Alejandro Ramirez \| President, Fundación Cinepolis & Mexicanos Primeros \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Civic Engagement		2016 H.E. Juan Manuel Santos \| President of Colombia \| Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for Peace H.E. Enrique García \| President, CAF-Development Bank of America \| Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award BMW Group \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Corporate Social Responsibility
2018 Mr. Daniel Servitje \| Chairman & CEO, Grupo Bimbo \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Corporate Social Responsibility Ms. Esperanza Cueto \| Co-Founder, ComunidadMujer & President, Fundación Colunga Distinguished Leadership Award for Women’s Rights and Empowerment Mr. Richard Blanco \| Poet \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Outstanding Cultural Contribution		2015 H.E. Felipe González \| Former President of the Government of Spain \| Distinguished Leadership for the Americas Award Mr. Daniel Chávez Morán \| Founder, Grupo Vidanta & Fundación Vidanta \| Distinguished Leadership for the Americas Award
2017 H.E. Fernando Henrique Cardoso \| Former President of Brazil \| Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award H.E. Luis Alberto Moreno \| President, Inter-American Development Bank \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Social Equity Mr. Roberto Murray Meza \| Chairman, Grupo AGRISAL & Founding President, Fundemas \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Civic Engagement Dr. Luis von Ahn \| Co-Founder & CEO, reCAPTCHA & Duolingo Computer Science Professor, Carnegie Mellon University \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Innovation and Social Impact		2014 Mr. Salvador Paiz \| Co-Chairman, Grupo PDC & Chair, FunSEPA \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Civic Engagement The Honorable Tim Kaine \| US Senator, Virginia \| Distinguished Leadership Award for Public Service in the Americas