Ernesto Nieto honored by San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 16, at Hispanic Heritage Month Leaders & Legacies award ceremony

NHI founder and president Ernesto Nieto, who recently received the honor of a Congressional Record proclamation to herald his 85th birthday, is receiving another honor this coming weekend from a beloved institution closer to home — the San Antonio Spurs. 

The NBA franchise with fans throughout Central and South Texas is heralding Nieto and three other Latino leaders through its Hispanic Heritage Month Leaders & Legacies recognition event on Sunday, Nov. 16, during halftime of the team’s game against the Sacramento Kings. The game starts at 3 pm, with pregame activities beginning at 1:30 pm. 

Those who want to attend and support Nieto and the Spurs can buy discounted tickets through this link. Each purchase includes Spurs game tickets and an exclusive Spurs Hispanic Heritage Night Jersey. Plus, $5 from every ticket sold through this link will support scholarships and programming for the National Hispanic Institute.

I’m honored to be recognized for the work of the National Hispanic Institute. It is fitting that this award from the Spurs community pays tribute to legacy and leadership,” Nieto said. “We believe the real legacy of NHI is not the work of any one person, but the collective of leaders, from the first groups of NHI alumni who participated in the 1980s when we were still a very young organization, to the next generation of leaders annually attending our leadership education programs, to all the volunteers and community alliances who make those possible.” 

Chris Nieto, Ernesto’s son and a former senior vice president at NHI — currently chief program officer at Leadership Austin — will be accepting the award on behalf of his father. 

The club announced the awards through their Spurs Way social media accounts on Oct. 10, tied to their Spurs Impact site. On that same day, NHI executive vice president Nicole Nieto went to a Spurs event for honorees, representing the organization. 

NHI supporters in Austin and Hays County who want to come down for the game should be aware of the Spurs’ new charter bus program, with buses leaving south Austin at noon at returning at 8 pm on the 16th. 

For those who want to support the NHI chapter in San Antonio, it is currently taking donations on its local alliance page. 

Other honorees include Sonya Medina Williams, Eddie Vega, and Amparo H. Ortiz.