Union Bank of California, N.A. recently announced the names of the 15 winners of this year's Local Hero of the Year awards in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The winners of the award were selected for their commitment and contributions to the greater San Diego, Fresno and Los Angeles communities through the arts, business, education, social services and community activism.

This year's honorees include an orchestra conductress based in Los Angeles, an activist from San Diego who works to prevent human trafficking and sex slavery and a teacher from Fresno with more than 33 years of experience in education. The local heroes will be honored at three different awards' receptions to be held in September at the local station of the PBS affiliates -- KPBS in San Diego, KVPT in Fresno and KCET in Fresno. The affiliates partner with Union Bank for the awards' program.

"We receive many nominations of qualified and dedicated individuals worthy of this award," said Stephen Johnson, senior vice president and public relations director with Union Bank. "These individuals are making a real difference in our communities and because they rarely get recognized for their efforts, they are truly unsung heroes."

The winners from San Diego will receive the award on September 13. Maria Gallo and Paul Magana, senior vice presidents with Union Bank and hosts for the event, will present the award to:

-- Linda Caballero-Merritt, president and CEO of the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She will receive the award for her work in the business sector. With more than 15 years of experience, Caballero-Merritt has led various initiatives to advance economic development for emerging businesses.

-- Jose Gonzalez, volunteer/press coordinator for Frente Indigena de Organizaciones Binacionales (Indigenous Front of Binational Organizations). He will receive the award for his work as a community activist. On his free time, Gonzalez helps more than 300 farm workers living in the fields of North County with basic needs such as blankets and clothing as well as increasing awareness about worker's and human rights.

-- Isidro Ortiz, Ph.D., professor at San Diego State University. Dr. Ortiz will be recognized for his work in education. He strives to be a teacher, scholar-activist and mentor. With a 25-year teaching career, he promotes academic survival and advancement of disadvantaged students.

-- Mario Torero, a Peruvian "artivist" and one of the original muralists of Chicano Park. Torero will be recognized for his commitment to help preserve the history of San Diego with his murals and their message of hope and unity. He mentors youth, encouraging them to participate in the improvement of their communities.

-- Marisa Ugarte, founder of the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition. Ugarte will be honored for her efforts in social services. With more than 20 years of experience in the field, Ugarte is an advocate for exploited men, women and children and assists at-risk youth. Her mission is to stop underage sex slavery and human trafficking.

In Fresno, Maria Gallo and Tim Rodriguez, senior vice presidents with Union Bank, will present the award on September 14 to:

-- Teresa Alvarado, program manager for the San Joaquin Valley Health Consortium. She will be recognized for her lifetime efforts in the area of social services. She has been a leading force in establishing various programs which provide health care to low-income children in the Central Valley.

-- Carol E. Hernandez, a financial services professional with New York Life Insurance. She will receive the award for her accomplishments as a business professional. A former victim of domestic violence, Hernandez has overcome many obstacles to become one of her employer's top female agents.

-- Agustin Lira, founder of the musical group ALMA and co-founder of El Teatro Campesino (the farm worker's theater). The company created songs and plays designed to raise awareness about farm workers' struggle for justice in the 60s, as well as the Chicano movement. Lira will be recognized for his commitment to raise awareness about social issues through the arts.

-- Michael P. Mendoza, director of the Hanford Elementary School District. He will be recognized for his work in the education field. For more than 33 years, he has served students of the Central Valley as a teacher, student liaison, vice principal and principal. Recently, he spearheaded an initiative that resulted in the opening of two new schools in the district.

-- Enrique Reade, funeral director with Yost & Webb Funeral Home. Reade will receive the award for his tireless efforts as a community activist. He has spearheaded several food and clothing drives, health care clinics and disaster-relief efforts at the local, national and international level. He volunteered in New Orleans for two weeks post Hurricane Katrina.

The winners from the Los Angeles area will receive the award on September 21. George Ramirez, market president with Union Bank, will host the award's reception and present the award to:

-- Sonia Marie De Leon De Vega, orchestra conductress for Santa Cecilia Orchestra, will be honored for her work in the arts. De Leon De Vega has spearheaded an effort to establish a music program in 16 schools in Los Angeles. As a musician, she was the first woman in history to receive a Vatican invitation to conduct a symphony orchestra at a Papal Mass.

-- Dora Jacildo, executive director of Children Today, a non-profit child development center for homeless children in Long Beach -- one of the cities with the largest homeless child populations in the country. Jacildo has a wealth of experience and commitment to serving young children and families and has played an instrumental role in the opening of hundreds of childcare centers in the Los Angeles area.

-- Pedro M. Muniz, a public relations specialist with the Los Angeles Police Department, will be honored for his work in the social services area. Muniz has been instrumental in bridging the disconnection between the LAPD and the Spanish-speaking community of Los Angeles through various public awareness campaigns. Through his efforts, several suspects of violent crimes and fugitives have been captured.

-- Jose Daniel Ocampo, owner of Tires R Us, will receive the award for his accomplishments as a business owner. Despite being a victim of numerous robberies and the L.A. Riots, Ocampo has led various initiatives and crime-prevention programs to improve the South Los Angeles community.

-- Eddie "Piolin por la Manana" Sotelo, a DJ with KSCA La Nueva 101.9 FM, will be recognized for his efforts as a community activist. Piolin was instrumental in mobilizing the Latino community nationwide during the recent immigration-reform marches. Through his morning show, Piolin provides a venue for listeners to get help with financial problems, illness, social services issues, and legal and immigration matters.

Union Bank of California launched the Local Hero of the Year Awards program in 1997 to recognize the contributions of many ethnic unsung heroes in California during the respective heritage months for Hispanic Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans and African Americans.

Based in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation (NYSE:UB) is a bank holding company with assets of $50.8 billion at June 30, 2006. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank of California, N.A., had 321 banking offices in California, Oregon and Washington, and 2 international offices at June 30, 2006. The company's Web site is located at www.unionbank.com.