Organizers of the annual Hispanicize event today announced the launch of the ‘Jewel Award’ for Social Good. The new award will be presented during the 2017 Tecla Awards and is inspired by lifestyle blogger and Ovarian Cancer champion Jewel Figueras of Jewel’s Fab Life who passed away this week after a four-year battle against the disease.
The annual Jewel Award for Social Good will be a special part of the Hispanicize Tecla Awards, the nation’s highest honor for multicultural content creators that will take place on Thursday, April 6, the culmination of Hispanicize 2017 Week, April 3-6 (www.HispanicizeEvent.com). The Jewel Award will recognize digital creators who like Figueras passionately serve causes through their platforms to help others and to raise awareness about important issues.
“Jewel was one of the most loved members of our multicultural social media community and this award is our way of continuing to honor her courage and commitment for serving others and the fight against ovarian and other cancers,” said Cristy Clavijo-Kish, Chief Development Officer of Hispanicize Media Group and Chair of the 2017 Tecla Awards. “As Jewel’s efforts helped everyone battling this disease, her award will continuously highlight the work of creators on behalf of their passion projects and heartfelt initiatives that support our communities,’ added Clavijo-Kish, a teenage cancer survivor herself.
Jewel announced her personal battle with Ovarian Cancer directly on her blog and helped raise funds to fight the illness and fund research all using her social media influence and reach. Additionally, she shared tips alerting women about the warning signs of ovarian and other reproductive system-related cancers in an effort to help women of color obtain care and diagnosis at earlier stages.
Jewel passed on Monday, January 9, but not before learning that she would be remembered with one of Hispanicize’s most special honors. “Jewel smiled when she heard about her award last week and we are grateful that she was happy to know she will always be a part of Hispanicize,” said Manny Ruiz, CEO and founder of the Hispanicize Media Group that owns the event.