2024 Eugenio Garza Sada Award: Recognizing exemplary community work

A businessman distinguished for his community work, an association that rehabilitates people with cerebral palsy, and a student group that promotes education in indigenous communities have won the 2024 Eugenio Garza Sada Award.

Businessman José Francisco Arteaga, the Association for People with Cerebral Palsy (APAC I.A.P.), and Yeex-Kukulmat have won the award given by Tec de Monterrey and FEMSA.

Since 1993, this award has been given in three categories to entrepreneurs, organizations, and student groups that excel in humanistic leadership, as well as in innovation and social entrepreneurship.

The winners were announced by José Antonio Fernández, Director and Executive Chairman of the FEMSA Board of Directors, at a ceremony held at the Monterrey campus Conference Center.

“This award recognizes individuals and organizations whose community work promotes the development of Mexico.The winners promote the values of Don Eugenio (Garza Sada), a highly ethical man who respected others,” said Fernández Carbajal.

“I invite you to be responsible citizens, to work together for the benefit of communities, to care for the planet, and keep in mind what we’ll leave to future generations,” he added.

The Eugenio Garza Sada Award is presented in three categories: Humanistic Business Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship, and Student Social Innovation.

The winners received the sculpture “Inner Light” by Yvonne Domenge, a certificate, and a cash prize, which amounts to two million pesos in total for the 3 categories.

“The winners promote the values of Don Eugenio (Garza Sada), a highly ethical man who respected others.” - José Antonio Fernández

Reaping the benefits of social leadership

José Francisco Arteaga Niepmann, president of La Huerta group, was recognized in the Humanistic Business Leadership category.

“I’m very excited about this award. It came at a difficult time in my life. It filled me with hope.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank God, my wife Belén, my children, my family, and my employees for having supported me in this great project that we call the great La Huerta family,” he said in his speech.

La Huerta consists of over 2,500 people, for whom José Francisco seeks to provide maximum value by ensuring the wellbeing of their families through daycare services, medical consultations, and support for the education of workers’ relatives, among other things.

In this category, the Eugenio Garza Sada Award grants 750,000 pesos that will be donated to an association chosen by the winner.

Improving the lives of people with cerebral palsy

The Social Entrepreneurship category was won by the Association for People with Cerebral Palsy (APAC I.A.P.).

APAC cares for babies, children, young people, and adults with cerebral palsy, who receive therapies and support with school, work, and social inclusion.

“On behalf of APAC, I’d like to thank this award, which bears the name of an exemplary man, an inspiration for everyone, especially for those of us working to transform the lives of people with cerebral palsy,” said Gabriela Molina, Secretary to the APAC Board of Trustees.

“Receiving this award is a recognition of the effort, dedication, and love that we provide through 90 services for babies, children, young people, and adults with disabilities.”

As well as supporting its beneficiaries, APAC provides workshops and courses for families.

This association received 700,000 pesos in support.

Education for all, the driving force behind Yeex-Kukulmat

Tec graduate Ángel Solís and Tec student Carlos Vega are part of the Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship program who have combined their projects to give life to Yeex - Kukulmat: Uniting cultures, preserving languages.

Yeex-Kukulmat works to promote education in indigenous communities, fostering reconnection with their roots and empowerment through the collective identity of indigenous peoples.

This project seeks to address problems by creating educational materials that adapt to the specific needs of these communities.

“As Ángel is from Chiapas and I’m from San Luis Potosí, we’ve worked based on the firm tradition that our roots are fundamental to building a more just and equitable world.

“With this award, we seek to reach more communities. We believe that social innovation has the power to transform realities, and this recognition is proof that we’re on the right path,” said Carlos Vega.

The founders of Yeex-Kukulmat were awarded 500,000 pesos, of which 100,000 are for the project and the rest for an international experience that contributes to their community work after being selected in the Student Social Innovation category.

Leaders of Tomorrow is the Tec’s 100% scholarship program that enables it to contribute to educating young people with extraordinary talent and academic excellence who seek to transform reality.

About the Eugenio Garza Sada Award

This award was introduced in 1993 by FEMSA and Tec de Monterrey to commemorate the life, work, humanistic leadership, and legacy of businessman Don Eugenio Garza Sada.

Don Eugenio was one of the founders of Tec de Monterrey in 1943.

The award recognizes leading institutions and people from Mexico or abroad who contribute to the wellbeing of the Mexican community through the development, improvement, and productive capacity of their human or physical resources.

It also recognizes students from Tec de Monterrey and Tecmilenio who are leading high-impact and socially committed projects in communities across Mexico.

“The Eugenio Garza Sada Award recognizes the career, work, and perseverance of those who believe that reality can and must be changed,” said Ricardo Saldívar, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Tec de Monterrey.

“It also recognizes practice of the values that have shaped our educational institution: innovation, knowledge, and the desire for transformation,” he added.

Attending the event were: Consuelo Garza Lagüera de Garza, President of the Eugenio Garza Sada Award Steering Committee; Eva Garza de Fernández, Vice President of the Award Steering Committee; and David Garza, Rector and Executive President of the Tec.

Also in attendance were Alfonso Garza, Gabriel Garza, Jessica Ponce de León, Lorena Guillé-Laris, David Noel Ramírez, Juan Pablo Murra, and Alejandro Poiré, members of the Award Steering Committee.

Since its inception, the Eugenio Garza Sada Award has recognized 32 business leaders, 31 organizations, and 12 student projects that have benefited over 8 million people.

During this year’s call for applications, 650 proposals were received in the three categories.

Finally, it was announced that the award’s 2025 call for applications is now open: applications will be accepted until March 21, 2025 for the Humanistic Business Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship categories; and until April 11, 2025 for Student Social Innovation.

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