Cristina Saralegui Will Be Honored for TV Triumphs

Cristina Saralegui will be honored with the Outstanding Lifetime of Achievement in Hispanic Television award at the 5th Annual Hispanic Television Summit, which will take place on Oct. 4 in New York.

“We are thrilled to present this honor to Cristina,” expressed Larry Dunn, director of Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable, the groups organizing the summit. “She is an outstanding individual who has contributed to the overall profile and profitability of Spanish-language television.”

The 59-year-old presenter and producer is a 30-year veteran of the journalism world. After winning 12 Emmy awards and filming more the 4,000 shows, El show de Cristina (Univisión) remains one of the most popular programs in Hispanic television.

“This is really quite an honor and a pleasure for me, and I appreciate the acknowledgement of my colleagues in our industry. It's a great feeling. I know that I share this honor with the many people I have worked with through the years, notably those at Univisión networks,” the Cuban said.

Along with her Cuban husband, Marcos Ávila, Saralegui also founded the organization Arriba la Vida (Up with Life), a foundation dedicated to promoting AIDS education in the Hispanic community. In 2004, she created Casa Cristina, a collection a home décor inspired by her personal style. The journalist was also awarded the Valor Award in 2005 by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), which recognized her efforts to educate viewers about topics relating to homosexuality and AIDS.