Los Angeles, CA – February 10, 2025 – Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) is proud to announce that CEO Helen Iris Torres has been named a recipient of the prestigious 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. This annual award recognizes innovative leaders who are implementing breakthrough solutions to critical challenges facing California, improving lives, and expanding opportunities across the state. 

As the leader of HOPE for over two decades, Torres has been instrumental in advancing policies and programs that strengthen democracy and empower Latinas through leadership development, civic engagement, and economic mobility. Under her guidance, HOPE has trained more than 2,000 Latinas who have gone on to serve in over 1,800 leadership positions, bolstering Latina representation in government, business, and nonprofit sectors. 

In addition to this distinguished honor, The James Irvine Foundation will provide HOPE with a $350,000 grant to further its mission of fostering Latina leadership and advocacy. This funding will support the organization’s continued efforts to expand educational opportunities, increase civic participation, and address key policy issues affecting California’s Latina community. 

“I am deeply honored to receive the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award,” said Helen Iris Torres, CEO of HOPE. “This recognition underscores the importance of HOPE’s mission and the impact of our work to advance Latina leadership. With this support, we will continue to champion policies and programs that uplift our community and create lasting change.” 

The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards spotlight individuals and organizations that are making a significant impact in addressing the state’s most pressing challenges. The awardees serve as models for effective, scalable solutions that contribute to a stronger and more equitable California. 

To learn more about the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards, visit https://irvineawards.org.  

About Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) – HOPE® is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that has empowered our communities through advocacy, Latina leadership training, and increasing knowledge on the contributions Latinas have made to advance the status of women for the past 35 years. To date, HOPE’s innovative programming has served over 60,000 Latinas and touched the lives of several thousand more through our advocacy. For more information on HOPE, please visit Latinas.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Media Contact:  Lorena Alamillo 

lorena@vpepr.com 

213-443-6953