Don Quixote Dinner 2019 | Senator Antonio Muñoz

El Valor is honored to present Senator Antonio Muñoz with the Don Quixote Leadership Award at this year’s Don Quixote Dinner on June 12th. Senator Muñoz has consistently been an advocate in Springfield and a representative who fights for the people in his district, and for the most vulnerable populations in Chicago.

Senator Muñoz is currently advocating for legislation that would encourage and support child care workers seeking to further their educations with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in early childhood. He supported the legislation that required early childhood providers to assist all children to succeed, by eliminating expulsion as a disciplinary option. Senator Muñoz has also sponsored legislation that supports families and their economic growth by broadening their access to quality child care through expanded qualification guidelines.

“Over the past 20 years, Senator Muñoz has been a champion for Latino rights, both in his community and throughout the city of Chicago,” said Rey B. Gonzalez, President & CEO of El Valor. “Through his early childhood education legislation, he is fighting for a better tomorrow for El Valor’s children and families.”

State Senator Antonio “Tony” Muñoz has served the 1st Senate District since January 1999 and will continue as Assistant Majority Leader, appointed by Senate President John Cullerton.
 
As a former Chicago police officer, Muñoz saw firsthand that crime and gang activity were tearing apart his community.  His legislative priorities have always been crime prevention and ensuring that weapons stay off the streets and out of neighborhoods.
 
In addition, Muñoz has maintained his fight for veterans throughout Illinois. As a veteran himself, he knows how the strain of combat can affect soldiers. He has championed counseling programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs that help soldiers recover from post-traumatic stress disorder. 
 
Muñoz is co-founder of the Latino Caucus, which consists of Latino legislators in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The caucus is dedicated to bettering the lives of Latinos by working to develop and pass legislation that will have a positive impact on the lives of the nearly 1.4 million Latinos living in Illinois.
 
During the 101st General Assembly, Muñoz serves as Chairman of the Executive Appointments Committee and is a member of the Assignments, Executive, Energy and Public Utilities, Insurance and Veterans Affairs.

Muñoz represents the neighborhoods of Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights, West Elsdor, Brighton Park, Gage Park, Chicago Lawn, New City, McKinley Park, Bridgeport, Armor Square-Chinatown, Lower West Side and the Near South Side.

In addition to Senator Antonio Muñoz, El Valor will also be honoring ComEd who is set to receive the El Valor Corporate Visionary Award. The Don Quixote Dinner will take place on Wednesday, June 12, at Hilton Chicago’s Grand Ballroom (720 South Michigan Ave).

For tickets or information about becoming an event sponsor, please visit https://elvalor.org/el-valors-26th-annual-don-quixote-dinner-2019/  or contact Emma De Biasio at (312) 492-5936.