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IPRHFF 2025 Honorees

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Carlos Ponce

Renowned as a multi award-winning actor, singer, songwriter, composer, TV personality, and philanthropist, the multifaceted Carlos Ponce hails from Santurce, Puerto Rico, where he made his acting debut at the tender age of six. Carlos rose to global fame in 1998 with the release of his selftitled debut album, which achieved Double Platinum status and dominated the Latin Billboards. Throughout his illustrious career, he has released six albums, earning worldwide accolades such as Best Pop Album in 1999 and landing three chart-topping hits on the Latin Billboards, as well as the award for Best New Artist. Notably, he contributed “Bella Notte,” the end title song for the film Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure. In addition to his musical success, Carlos has showcased his acting prowess in a myriad of small and big screen productions around the globe.
Whether portraying intense dramatic roles in telenovelas broadcasted by Univision, Telemundo, and Televisa or delivering captivating as well as hilariously funny performances in popular English-language projects like Murder Mystery 2 alongside Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, Julie & The Phantoms, and Couples Retreat, Carlos Ponce has proven his versatility time and time again. His acting credits also extend to iconic series such as 7th Heaven and Beverly Hills 90210. Furthermore, Carlos has made a mark as a record-breaking voice actor, lending his voice to beloved films such as Rio and Ice Age: Collision Course. Notably, he holds the distinction of voicing every character in the Spanish-language Harry Potter Audible saga on Amazon Prime, a feat that earned him a place in the Guinness World Records.

Humanitarian Award Recipient

Wilson Cruz

Award-winning Actor, Producer, Activist, “Actorvist,” and Humanitarian Wilson Cruz currently stars as Dr. Hugh Culber on the Award-winning Paramount+ series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. He appeared on the Netflix series THIRTEEN REASONS WHY and in Hulu’s 2020 GLAAD Award-Winning original animated kids’ series THE BRAVEST KNIGHT. He is also the Executive Producer of the critically acclaimed docuseries called VISIBLE:OUT ON TELEVISION airing on Apple TV+ that investigates the importance of TV as an intimate medium that has shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement has shaped television.


Receiving the Emery S. Hetrick Award from the Hetrick- Martin Institute for Outstanding Contributions to LGBTQ Youth, for his role as Rickie Vasquez on the ABC series MY SO CALLED LIFE, Wilson became the first openly Gay actor playing an openly Gay role on series television. Cruz also starred as Angel in the West Coast premiere of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical RENT which earned him both The Ovation and Drama Logue awards before his reprisal of the role on Broadway.

Cruz recently accepted GLAAD’s 2022 Vito Russo Award WATCH: Wilson Cruz Accepts the Vito Russo Award at the 33rd GLAAD Awards | Star Trek and the Make A Difference Award from the Matthew Shepard Foundation. He has also received the Rand Schrader Distinguished Achievement Award from the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center, the Liberty Award from Lambda Legal, the Visibilidad Award from GLAAD, the Fusion Achievement Award from Outfest, the Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Entertainment and Advocacy from the California Latino Legislative Caucus, the Harvey Milk Equality Award, the Lincoln Aston Public Service Award, Aston-Brooks Award, and the Advocate Award from AdColor.

He served as the Director of Entertainment Industry Partnerships and National Spokesperson for GLAAD, currently serves on the board of GLSEN and devotes considerable time supporting other LBGTQ organizations as well. Wilson is a first generation American of Puerto Rican descent. He has helped raise money for political candidates supporting LBGTQ rights.

As a speaker, Cruz is called on to rally the troops both internally at national corporations and externally with the world as evidenced of his inclusions on the cable talkers, such as Jonathan Capehart’s show on MSNBC and 2022, Pride Stars of Stage and Screen, speaking at NYC Pride in 2018 (2020) and New York Pride (2021).

Orgullo Award Recipient

Joe Torres

Joe is a full-fledged, purebred New Yorker. He was born in Brooklyn. He attended P.S. 198 until the sixth grade when his family moved to Northern Westchester County. He is a graduate of John Jay High School in Cross River. Joe joined the Eyewitness News team as a general assignment reporter in 1996. Throughout the last two decades he has established himself as one of the premier street reporters here in the nation’s #1 television market. Versatility is his strength. Crime, politics, religion, education, transportation, business, whatever the subject, Joe has covered it all with an engaging and energetic style that fellow New Yorkers have come to know and love.

Joe also serves as Host of ‘Tiempo,’ a 30-minute public affairs program aimed at the ever-growing Latino population in the New York metropolitan area. ‘Tiempo’ airs each Sunday morning at 11:30.

Joe’s distinctive storytelling ability garnered him a Peabody Award and the Edward R. Murrow Award for his reports on the world-changing events of September 11th. Joe also earned an Emmy Award for his coverage of the Greenpoint Gas Tank Implosions in 2001.

Aureo I. Cardona Visionary Award

Rafael J. Rivera-Viruet

Rafael J. Rivera-Viruet, A/K/A Ralph Rivera, was born in the central mountains of Puerto Rico on a coffee farm in the town of Utuado. He arrived in New York during the “Great Migration” of the late 1940s to live in the South Bronx. He is a product of the New York City public school system and realized his first dream… “go to college and get out of poverty”. With the knowledge that he absorbed and his business savvy, it gave him the opportunity to fulfill the dream of becoming a major Financial Executive and Producer in the entertainment business on an international level.

In the late 1960s, while working for the CPA firm Price Waterhouse, he was recruited by the Ashley Famous Talent Agency and guided the company’s financial affairs. As CFO and with his mentor Marvin Josephson, they created mergers and acquisitions to form International Creative Management, (ICM), the Behemoth Talent Agency.

In 1980s, searching for more dreams, he was offered to relocate to Los Angeles to work with Martin Starger (Former President of ABC television) and Sir Lew Grade, the head of the British entertainment company, Marble Arch Productions.  Some of the projects that he was involved with include Academy award-winning films “On Golden Pond” and “Sophie’s Choice”.  He then joined Marvel Comics and worked with Stan Lee in the television animation productions of “Spider-Man”, “Iron Man” and “Fantastic Four” for FOX Children’s Television.

He was fortunate to survive an earthquake in 1994, and relocated to San Juan, PR where he began to produce historical documentaries on Hispanic culture events in music, film and politics.  

His documentary films include:  “The Golden Sage of Salsa” with Larry Harlow and the Fania All Stars. “San Juan – 500 years of History”. “Politics Con Sabor” – The history of the political empowerment of Puerto Ricans and other Latinos in New York State from the 1920s into the 21st Century.

He is also the author of the award-winning book: “HOLLYWOOD: Se Habla Español” that chronicles the achievements of Hispanics in Hollywood films over the last 100 years. In 2014, he produced the Off-Broadway musical “The Zombies: A Musical Spoof!”.    

He has been writing his memoirs in a series of picture books titled Dream Chaser- From the Hills of Puerto Rico to the Hollywood Hills. and his most current publication is titled “Numbers!… Is Everything”. The hardcover Picture Book was awarded Best Biography by the NABE in 2024.

Rising Star Award Recipient

Summer Rose Castillo

Summer Rose Castillo is an award-winning actress, voice artist, and visual creator from the Bronx, New York, whose passion and talent light up every project she touches. She is best known as the vibrant voice of Alma Rivera in the beloved PBS Kids series Alma’s Way, created by the legendary Sonia Manzano (Sesame Street). Summer’s powerful performance earned her the 2022 Imagen Award for Best Voice-Over Actor, a testament to her ability to bring heart, humor, and authenticity to the screen. Continuing her exciting rise, Summer Rose starred in the award-winning film Brownsville Bred, directed by Elaine Del Valle, a story that celebrates heritage, resilience, and the beauty of growing up in New York City. She also made her television debut on CBS’s hit drama The Equalizer alongside Queen Latifah—marking her first live-action performance and showcasing her dynamic range as a young actress on the rise. When she’s not acting, Summer Rose is an artist at heart, spending her time painting and creating imaginative works that reflect her joy and curiosity about the world. She dreams of sharing her art across the globe, inspiring others to embrace their creativity and follow their passions fearlessly. With every role she takes on—whether behind the mic, in front of the camera, or at her art table—Summer Rose Castillo continues to prove that her star is only just beginning to shine.