Rusty Price at the center’s Back to School Children’s Health Fair last summer

Congratulations to Rusty Price, founder and president of the Camino Community Center in University City, for his much-deserved recognition by The Carolina Panthers and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. The Panthers and the foundation recently awarded Price the 2017 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award for his contributions to the local Hispanic community.

The Carolina Panthers honored Price at their Sept. 24 game against the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market.  Previous award recipients include Rocio Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, in 2015; and Norberto Sanchez, owner of numerous Carolinas restaurants and media outlets, in 2014.

About Price’s work

Price launched Camino Community Center in 2004 to provide a basic primary healthcare clinic for the Latino community. Vision became reality through years of work by Price and Executive Director Wendy Mateo-Pascual.

Today, Camino Community Center offers services including the Bethesda medical clinic, food pantry, community thrift store, homeless ministry and workforce development.

The center, located on Stetson Drive near the University City Boulevard transit station, annually serves over 20,000 clients of all races and nationalities. Several community groups and businesses including UNC Charlotte and University City Partners work with the center to provide a wide range of services.

About the award

This is the seventh year the NFL, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Nationwide have partnered for the award, which is announced during Hispanic Heritage Month. The award includes a $2,000 donation. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit that promotes cultural pride and accomplishment in the nation’s Hispanic community.

Learn more about Camino Community Center

To learn more about the Camino Community Center programs and how you can get involved, visit the center’s webpage and Facebook Page or call the center at 704-596-5606.