Joined by Family Members During Acceptance Speech, Pla Honors Local Leaders for Equitable Representation and Dedicates His Award to Long Beach City Council Member Roberto Uranga
Cordoba Corporation is proud to announce that Founder & CEO George L. Pla was honored by the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) for his philanthropy at MOLAA’s 26th Annual LEGADO Awards Gala on October 15, 2022. Following a video featuring State Senator Lena Gonzalez, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, and Long Beach City College Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz sharing congratulatory messages to Mr. Pla, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn introduced Mr. Pla and presented a commendation from the County of Los Angeles.
With six of his grandchildren joining him on stage as he later accepted the LEGADO award from MOLAA Gala Co-Chair Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, Mr. Pla thanked his wife Gail of 49 years for her support.
Later, he reflected on the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion embodied by the past and current elected leaders present at the gala, including former Assembly Member Richard Alatorre, former State Senator Martha Escutia, former State Senator Dean Florez, former Assembly Member Dario Frommer, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, State Senator Lena Gonzalez, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, former State Senator Richard Polanco, Long Beach City Council Member Rex Richardson and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Mr. Pla also honored Supervisor Hahn’s father, the late Kenneth Hahn, State Senator Jenny Oropeza, who passed away in 2010, and Long Beach City Council Member Roberto Uranga, who is recuperating from a stroke following the recent passing of his son Tito from Stage 4 cancer. He then dedicated his MOLAA award to Council Member Uranga and invited his wife Tonia to the stage accept the award on behalf of her husband.
“I am profoundly grateful to receive the LEGADO Award for Philanthropy from MOLAA, and I will always treasure the experience of receiving the award at the gala with my family, as they are everything to me,” stated George L. Pla. “I have been heartbroken for the Uranga family after learning of Tito’s passing and the unfathomable grief Roberto and Tonia are experiencing. I was inspired to dedicate my award to Roberto for his dedicated service and unwavering commitment to the people of Long Beach. Roberto and Tonia are both in my prayers as he recovers from his stroke and as they grieve their beloved son.”
For more information the MOLAA Gala and other honorees, please see excerpts from MOLAA’s press release below.
###
MOLAA the only museum dedicated to showcasing and celebrating contemporary Latin American And LatinX art Celebrates 26 YEARS
Gala Honored Master Artist Fernando Botero, Businessman and Philanthropist George L. Plá, and Fundación Elias Pando.
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) celebrated 26 years of showcasing Latin American and Latinx art with a very successful gala that brought together more than 500 celebrants and supporters for a fun-filled extravaganza of fun, delicious food, great music, and art appreciation. MOLAA also honored Master Artist Fernando Botero, businessman and philanthropist George L. Plá, and Fundación Elías Pando with its LEGADO awards.
“We are very pleased with the success of this year’s Gala,” said 2022 Gala Committee Co-Chairs Mario Cordero, Executive Director, Port of Long Beach, and Gloria Cordero. “Support from the community was overwhelming and impressive because MOLAA offers an insight into the world of art from a different lens and perspective. Today, the museum has evolved and is opening its galleries to showcase local Latinx artists which are reflective of the community’s needs.”
Entertainment was provided by the Grammy-winning Chicano Rock group Quetzal, which played a mix of Mexican, Afro-Cuban, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock music.
“As one of the first museums in the United States to showcase Latin American and Latinx artists, we were excited to have celebrated this special gala night with our friends and supporters,” said MOLAA’s President and CEO Dr. Lourdes Ramos-Rivas. “We are particularly grateful to the art aficionados and corporate sponsors who share our mission, vision, and values and joined us on this very special occasion to honor our very special LEGADO honorees.”
“MOLAA has had a tremendous impact on the promotion of Latin American art and the cultural enrichment of the community,” said LEGADO Philanthropic Awardee George Pla. “I am humbled to have received the LEGADO Philanthropy Award at the annual MOLAA GALA and was thrilled to have joined in celebrating MOLAA’s accomplishments in advancing Latin American and Latino art in Southern California.”
- More than 188 exhibitions of Latinx and Latin American Masters and up-and-coming artists
- An expanded mission to represent Latinx art in addition to Latin American art
- Maintain approximately 1,300 artworks in its collection
- Serving more than 65,000 people each year
- Serving more than one million visitors over the last 26 years.
Visit MOLAA to learn about its mission, vision, values, and exhibits at www.molaa.org.
###
