Three Members of the Hispanic Community to be Honored Saturday

Three prominent members of the Hispanic community will receive Lifetime Achievement awards Saturday at the City of Lancaster’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

Enelly Betancourt – Lifetime Achievement Award for Advocacy

Enelly Betancoiurt served as the first manager of WLCH Radio Centro — the first Spanish radio station in the region. She also served on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. She was hired by Lancaster Newspapers, a predecessor to LNP Media Group, in 1994 as the editor-in-chief of La Voz Hispana newspaper. She has also volunteered with numerous Lancaster County organizations including the Spanish American Civic Association, Southeast Lancaster Health Services and Hospice. We recognize Enelly for her many contributions to the region’s Hispanic community, primarily through telling the stories of its people with compassion and humanity over 35 years of award-winning journalism.

Nicolas Collado – Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Development

Nicolas Collado, better known to the community as Jesse El Moreno, is the founder of the Quisqueyanos Latinos Cultural Sports and Community Center, a non-profit association that has a men’s softball travel team, a men’s softball league, and a virtual radio station. Jesse continually enriches the lives of others, both the Hispanic community and those in need. He provides school supplies and Christmas gifts to children in need, and every Thanksgiving he opens his door to the community, sharing with anyone who would like to sit in and enjoy a free Thanksgiving meal.

Luis Pagan – Lifetime Achievement Award for Foundational Leadership

Among many lifetime achievements, Luis Pagan helped establish the Spanish American Civic Association (SACA) in 1973, which was founded to create a civic infrastructure through which an influx of Hispanic families in Lancaster could integrate into the social and economic fabric of Lancaster. He also helped organize the inaugural Puerto Rican parade and festival. Active in city politics, Luis is passionate about the development of affordable housing and small business, at one time owning four restaurants and a convenience store.

Mayor Sorace will recognize all three recipients at the celebration in Binns Park and Ewell Plaza. The awards will be presented at the festival around 5 p.m.

Nominations were sought from the public last month. This is the second time the City of Lancaster has awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards during Hispanic Heritage Month. Carlos Graupera and Fr. Allan Wolfe were honored in 2020.

For more information about the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, visit www.visitlancastercity.com/hhm.