JACKSONVILLE – Throughout the months of September and October, the Jacksonville Jaguars will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Latino community around the NFL.

Part of Por La Cultura, honoring the celebrating the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Latino community within the NFL, the NFL will connect Latino players to their familial home countries to meet their global fans, spread awareness of the sport and grow connections beyond the United States.

As part of NFL Latino Youth Honors, presented by Proctor & Gamble, the following area athletes will represent the Jaguars this season:

Paola Cruz-Ramos, Crescent City Jr-Sr High School flag football

• Year/Graduation: Senior/2025
• GPA: 3.5
• Heritage: Mexican
• Positions: CB and WR
• Previous season stats: 23 INTs (3 returned for TD), 8 TDs, 153 flag pulls
• About Paola: Paola is a great student-athlete and had a very successful season in spring of 2024 and has become a role model to the younger players on her flag football team. She made the 2024 Jaguars All-PREP team and was second-team all-state. Paola was also chosen as Putnam County's flag football player of the year. In the classroom Paola has a weighted 4.0 GPA, and she is part of Crescent City High School National Honor Society. Her junior year, Paola was selected to be in the Crescent City High School honor guard. Additionally, she is a star outside the classroom as well with over 82 community service hours.

Harrison Garrido, Creekside High School football

• Year/Graduation: Senior/2025
• GPA: 4.0
• Heritage: Cuban
• Position: RB
• Previous season stats: 1,346 yards rushing and 17 TDs
• About Harrison: "Harrison is a very determined and accountable young man with great integrity and character. He is a very hard worker who assists everyone around them in both moments of celebration and difficulty. His stats from his junior season and GPA show the amount of grit and work ethic that he has. Harrison always gives himself the very best opportunity for success because of the detailed work that he completes each and every day." – Creekside Football Head Coach Sean McIntyre

The NFL Latino Youth Honors program stems from a longstanding partnership between the NFL and Hispanic Heritage Foundation.

Throughout 2024, the Jaguars will provide support to the Northeast Florida Hispanic/Latino community, and recognize Hispanic/Latino students who are accomplished in the classroom and active in the community, through the following events:

On Saturday, September 14^th, the Jaguars Foundation partnered with Verizon to launch and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a Food Distribution event. The event took place at Englewood High School in partnership with Feeding Northeast Florida to provide groceries, supplies and Jaguars swag to over 375 Hispanic families in need.

On Sunday, September 15^th the Jacksonville Jaguars faced the Cleveland Browns for the home opener of the 2024 season. Jaguars Legend Jorge Cordova sounded off the "First Duuuval" of the season. The Jaguars Foundation recognized the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce scholarship recipients as well as this year's NFL Latino Youth honorees in the South End Zone during the game.

Following the home opener, on Monday, September 16^th the SOMOS DUUUVAL Youth Football Camp, presented by Verizon, took place at Englewood High School with over 240 kids in attendance. Students between 3^rd and 5^th grades representing Kings Trail, Spring Park, Love Grove and Englewood elementary schools were invited to participate.

Adriel Rocha, VP of Community Impact and Football believes "It is so impactful for these students to be able to celebrate their heritage and participate in this camp. Having Jorge Cordova, the first Mexican American to be drafted by the Jaguars, come out to speak and show them the drills shows them anything is possible."

Lastly, the Duval County Public Schools Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest allows students from grades 4 through 12 a chance to explore the rich Hispanic Heritage in Northeast Florida. The essay must be written about a living person of Hispanic/Latino heritage from the Jacksonville community who has made a significant contribution in one of the following areas: Medicine, the Arts, Politics, Law, Education, Business, Literature, Science. Winners will be recognized at EverBank stadium on October 15th during a luncheon to congratulate them and acknowledge their hard work, and to close out Hispanic Heritage Month.