Chase & MasterCard Sponsors of 2004 Hispanic Heritage Awards @ Kennedy Center.

Chase and MasterCard International announced their Premier Sponsorship of the 2004 Hispanic Heritage Awards taking place tomorrow at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The event, now in its 18th year, will be broadcast September 18, 2004 on NBC stations and later on Telemundo stations.

This marks the seventh year Chase and MasterCard have supported the Hispanic Heritage Awards, a gala event celebrating Hispanic heritage and honoring the most notable achievements by Hispanic Americans. Chase and MasterCard will present the leading youth award, the “Chase MasterCard Hispanic Heritage Youth Award for Academic Excellence,” given to high school seniors demonstrating extraordinary levels of academic achievement, leadership and cultural pride.

Jonathan Julio Jourdane, a graduate of San Diego’s Point Loma High School, is this year’s national winner selected from a group of 168 regional finalists and over 7,000 applicants. In addition to his outstanding academic achievements, he is the founder of the Cesar E. Chaves Service Club, a program designed to unite young people of all ethnicities through community service. Jourdane cites his father, a lawyer for Mexican farm workers, as the inspiration for his plans to study political science at Stanford University and pursue a career as a civil rights lawyer. Carter Franke, chief marketing officer of Chase’s Card Services division, will present Jourdane with the award, $8,000 in educational grants and a laptop computer.

“On behalf of Chase and MasterCard, we congratulate Jonathan and all of the young men and women honored who lead by the positive example of outstanding academics and dedication to community service,” said Ms. Franke. “We are committed to strengthening the neighborhoods in which we live and work by offering opportunities that support the achievements of exceptional young men and women, especially within the Hispanic community.”

“MasterCard International is proud to be a returning sponsor of the Hispanic Heritage Awards with Chase,” said Lawrence Flanagan, executive vice president, chief marketing officer of MasterCard International. “Our joint commitment underscores our investment in the Hispanic community and in their future leaders.”

Chase’s credit card and retail banking businesses will also provide summer internships to several regional and National Hispanic Heritage Youth Award winners, giving them the opportunity to influence real-world, diverse marketing initiatives. In addition, Chase is committed to financial education for youth, with various programs dedicated to teaching financial responsibility to high school and college students.