Since 2006, the NFL and its member clubs have celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. The annual game day celebration presented by Miller Lite features Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico groups from the Dallas and San Antonio areas welcoming fans to the stadium with cultural music and dance, a special presentation of the Colors “ including flags from Latin American countries “ and appearances from Hispanic dignitaries. Latin recording artists Los Lonely Boys, Paula DeAnda, Michael Salgado, Jay Perez and others have participated in the annual extravaganza with special National Anthem and halftime performances.

During the 2013 Hispanic Heritage Month game, the Cowboys teamed up with Telemundo to select and honor the Cowboys’ third annual NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award recipient. The 2013 honoree, local businessman, philanthropist and Venezuela native Carlos Branger, was presented a $2,000 grant for St. Jude Children’s Hospital on his behalf, provided by the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation.

 

The game day festivities are only one part of the Cowboys’ celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. During the month-long event, the Cowboys focus their community outreach efforts on predominantly Hispanic youth. In 2013, the Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club teamed up with Fuel Up to Play 60 and Hunger Busters “ a Dallas nonprofit dedicated to providing a much-needed third meal to food-insecure children “ to encourage healthy eating and distribute healthy meals to the predominantly Hispanic students at Botello Elementary School in Dallas. Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr also visited the predominantly Hispanic Carter Junior High School in Arlington to kick off the team’s 2013 PLAY 60 Challenge Powered by Reliant.

For the first time in July 2013, the Cowboys partnered with the Muñoz Agency to host the NFL PLAY 60 Character Camp at AT&T Stadium. The two-day camp reached approximately 300 boys and girls ages 9 to 13, the majority of whom were of Hispanic descent. The goal of the Character Camp was to introduce young participants to the fundamentals of football while emphasizing the PLAY 60 philosophy of getting 60 minutes of exercise in per day and reinforcing the importance of character in sports and life.

The Cowboys’ long history of supporting the Hispanic culture starts at the very top of the organization. In November 2002, Jerry Jones’s appreciation for Hispanic culture earned him the title of œHonorary Mariachi at the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza that took place in San Antonio, Texas. The event’s organizers selected Jones because of his love of the Latin culture, his contributions to education and the diverse fan base that he represents as the owner of the Cowboys. During the three years prior to Jones’s recognition, the award was presented to someone who had made significant contributions to the mariachi industry “ making Jones the first person who was not affiliated with the music industry to receive this unique award.
 

Dallas Cowboys Hispanic Outreach Programs:

• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Hispanic Heritage Month-Dedicated Game
• NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award
• Telemundo Business Salute at AT&T Stadium
• Fútbol Americano PLAY 60 Clinics
• NFL PLAY 60 Character Camp