Patricia Ruiz, a native of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, has worked tirelessly on behalf of Brooklyn’s Hispanic communities.  Most notably, she serves as President of the Boricua Festival Committee since 2001. Created to promote social interaction throughout Brooklyn’s Latino communities, the Boricua Festival is a day-long event held every summer.  It is a day filled with culture, education, health, music and pride, attended by over 8,000 people, which fosters the spirit of cultural advancement.  The Boricua Festival Committee serves Brooklyn’s economically mixed neighborhoods of Sunset Park, Park Slope, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Williamsburg, and other areas including Community Boards 3, 4, 6 and 7.  The Boricua Festival Committee endeavors to highlight the Puerto Rican/Hispanic culture through a yearly festival in partnership and collaboration with many local and civic organizations.

Pat also maintains professional affiliations with many organizations including the Association for Hispanic Healthcare Executives, 100 Hispanic Women and The National Association of Hispanic Nurses to name a few.  Additionally, she sits on the board of Community Board 7 serving as the 2nd Vice Chair.  In September 2008 she will sit on the boards of the Brooklyn Hispanic (Kings County) Chamber of Commerce and Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Pat has received many awards in her career.  Most recently having been named one of Brooklyn’s Extraordinary Woman for 2008, representing Sunset Park by The Honorable Charles J. Hynes, The 2007 Cultural Advocate Award from the Sunset Park Lions Club, The 2006 Hispanic Heritage Award from The Honorable Martin J. Golden, NYS Senator and The Leadership Award from The Honorable Charles Hynes, District Attorney of Brooklyn, Kings County Hispanic Heritage Celebration in 2006, The New York City Council Delegation Pace Setter Award in March 2006 and The Brooklyn Borough President’s Proclamation for her contribution to her Borough in bringing the Boricua Festival to Prospect Park since 2001.