Hispanic Leadership Assn. of NJ Honors Ralph Padilla, Others at Annual Gala
Photo of Ralph Padilla courtesy of PRAC of Southern New Jersey Facebook.
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
VINELAND — The late Ralph Padilla was honored posthumously at the Hispanic Leadership Association of New Jersey’s 11th annual Achievement Awards and Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Merighi Savoy Inn.
The annual gala recognizes individuals and groups from across the state for their outstanding work in the Latino community.
Padilla, who died in June months after receiving a liver transplant, was the CEO of the influential South Jersey nonprofit Puerto Rican Action Committee of Southern New Jersey. He received the HLA’s Founder’s Award at the gala.
He was the first Hispanic appointed to serve as the chief of a county prosecutor’s office in the state of New Jersey when he served in that post in Salem County in 2005 and the first Latino mayor of Pittsgrove in 2013. It was the first time a Latino had served as mayor of a city in Salem County’s 100-year-plus history.
Padilla was a long-serving law enforcement officer and detective who won local, state and national awards for his service, including recognitions from the Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshal’s Office.
“Ralph showed us what a real warrior is,” said his wife Elba Padilla at the gala, according to The Society Page. “Even in his struggles, he proved that his illness did not define him. If he was here, he would have thanked his parents and his brother for supporting him all of these years. He would have thanked his children for being the great father that he was.
“He would have thank those who supported and understood his vision. If you knew Ralph, at this point he would have said something witty and inspiring that would have amplified that little voice inside of all of us you can and keep going,” she continued.
Jael Conde and Angelica Quiles received Special Recognition Awards for continued contributions.
Conde, vice president of marketing and communications at Esperanza, one of the nation’s largest Hispanic, faith-based nonprofit organizations, leads multi-channel marketing and communication strategic initiatives across Esperanza’s 14 divisions and programs, supporting a $92 million operating budget and a team of over 750 employees.
HLA awardees covered longtime veterans and up and coming Latino leaders. Camden Fire Department’s William “Pete” Perez, the Fourth District Trustee with the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, and president of the Camden City Firefighters Union, received the Fire Department/Firefighter Leadership Award.
In March, he helped lead the call for improved fire trucks and equipment for local firefighters to help save lives.
The association also honored by Ashly Estevez-Perez, the founder of the nonprofit Movimiento Tricolor, which focuses on issues facing Dominicans in Camden County and is the founder and president of Dominican Restoration Day.
Estevez-Perez was part of the inaugural class of Front Runner New Jersey’s 30 Under 40 Top Young Latino Leaders of South Jersey in 2021.
The association also honored Dr. Jezebel Ortiz-Villaman with Virtua Health, where she is a bilingual healthcare professional with extensive experience leading strategic community health development and mental health recovery programs.
Camden’s Creative Arts High School teacher Patricio Acevedo on the Education Award. He started the school’s musical strings program, which has grown to more than 50 students, competing and performing in Puerto Rico.
Teresa Sicard Archambeault, who worked in public relations for the State of New Jersey and most recently served as the press secretary for U.S. Senate candidate Patricia Campos-Medina, received the Media/Journalism Leadership Award.
Schard Archambeault was the public affairs manager in the Department of Banking and Insurance for the state before joining Campos-Medina’s campaign.
Others honored included:
*Officer Maria Rivera, Police Department/Law Enforcement Leadership Award
*Cherry Hill Business owner Anna Adler, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award
*Camden Business owner Eddie Azcona, Business Leadership Award
*Luis Antonio Perez, Arts and Entertainment Leadership Award
HLAs scholarship recipients included Yanelis Perez, of Rowan University, Ashley Ramirez, of Stockton University and Luis A. Ramos Almanzar, or Rowan University. Last month, Ramirez was named to the Class of 2024 30 Under 40 Top Young Latino Leaders of South Jersey.
READ: 30 Under 40 Top Young Latino Leaders of South Jersey, Class of 2024 Sponsored by Franklin Bank
Jacquelyn A. Suárez, the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, was the keynote speaker of the gala. Suarez, the first Latina named to ever be named to the post, took over the position officially in June after serving as acting commission since September 2023.
Johnny Santiago is the board president of HLA New Jersey and Angel Fuentes the founder.
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