[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 148 (Tuesday, December 5, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF RAFAEL TORO, THE PUERTO RICAN ASSOCIATION'S MAN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2000

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rafael Toro on being 
recognized by the Puerto Rican Association as the Outstanding Community 
Leader of the Year.
  Rafael Toro, whose parents immigrated from Puerto Rico, is a native 
of New York City. He graduated from Northeastern University with a 
Bachelor's Degree in Communications and from Cambridge College with a 
Master's Degree in Education.
  Shortly after graduation, Mr. Toro was selected to serve as the 
Special Assistant to the Mayor of Boston, the Honorable Kevin White, 
where he led the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board in a coordinated 
effort with local organizations to empower Boston's Hispanic community. 
For his work with the Advisory Board, Mr. Toro received the Certificate 
of Excellence for Outstanding Contribution to the Hispanic Community 
from Governor Michael Dukakis and an award for outstanding achievement 
from Senator Edward Kennedy.
  In 1985, Rafael Toro was hired as the Director of Public Relations 
for Goya Foods, Inc., the Nation's largest Hispanic-owned company, to 
oversee public affairs, media relations, community activities, cultural 
programs, and corporate contributions. In addition, he supervises all 
Goya-sponsored special events, parades, and festivals. Mr. Toro has 
been instrumental in implementing several community and cultural 
activities, including the United Negro College Fund Annual Telethon, a 
Goya-sponsored, multi-city concert tour, and Goya's sponsorshp of 
Picasso at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  In 1993, Mr. Toro was awarded the prestigious Roy Wilkins 
Humanitarian Award from the NAACP.
  Today, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Rafael Toro for 
his contributions to the Hispanic community.

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