Siempre Mujer and The Museum of Latin American Art Host Second-Annual Day of the Dead Celebration Honoring the Life and Music of Selena

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NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Siempre Mujer, the largest Spanish-language lifestyle magazine for Latinas in the U.S., once again partnered with The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), the only museum in the country dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art, to host Fotos y Recuerdos, the ultimate Day of the Dead celebration honoring the life and music of Selena, on Friday, Oct. 30, at MOLAA in Long Beach, Calif.

The ticketed event was open to the public and attracted hundreds of guests from the art, politics, media, entertainment, philanthropy and business worlds, including Sandra Cisneros, the renowned author of The House on Mango Street; Grammy Award-winning musician Chris Perez; filmmaker Sergio Arau; Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles Carlos M. Sada; Univision's Despierta America Host Francisca Lachapel; Mayor of Long Beach Robert Garcia; Long Beach First District Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez; ABC7 Vista L.A. correspondent and the event's Mistress of Ceremonies Patricia Lopez; and YouTube's Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl.

Proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction, featuring unique travel, art and entertainment packages, raised nearly $60,000 to support MOLAA's exhibition and art education programs.

"Our second year partnering with Siempre Mujer on the Día de los Muertos fundraising gala was a huge success," says Stuart A. Ashman, MOLAA's President and CEO. "This vibrant event supports the Museum's educational goals of providing a rich, cultural context for our exhibitions, and we could not have had a better partner to help us further that mission than Siempre Mujer."

The theme of the event, Fotos y Recuerdos celebrated the memory and enduring legacy of Selena's music two decades after her tragic death.

The event honored Perez, Selena's widower, with the inaugural Dia de los Muertos Spirit Award for his support of Hispanic arts and culture. Following the award ceremony, Perez signed copies of his book, To Selena With Love, for guests. All proceeds from the book sales were donated to the museum.

The fundraiser also kicked off MOLAA's first-ever Day of the Dead Art & Altar Exhibition, and featured the unveiling of A Room of Her Own, an altar installation created by Cisneros honoring her mother, Elvira Cordero Cisneros, which was previously on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

The exhibition, which runs through Nov. 29, features 11 traditional altars, which are central to Day of the Dead celebrations to honor the lives of those who have passed, including 10 created by local students and artists, and a Despierta America altar tribute to Selena. The museum's 2015 Community Altar also celebrates the Tejano artist.

Additional event highlights included:

• Special musical tribute to Selena by Univision's Va por Ti finalist Virginia Stille, accompanied by Mariachi Garibaldi.
• Musical performances by Thee Commons, Boogaloo Assassins, Buyepongo, and Eastside Luv Residente D.J. Bsyde Morales.
• Mesmerizing live painting by famed Los Angeles-based artist and muralist Robert Vargas.
• Specialty cocktails and traditional Mexican cuisine with a twist.
• Day of the Dead-inspired face painting.
• Interactive on-site ancestor and lineage tracing courtesy of Ancestry.

"Bringing Day of the Dead celebrations to life has become an annual tradition for Siempre Mujer," says Cristy Marrero, Group Content Chief of Meredith Hispanic Media and Editor-in-Chief of Siempre Mujer. "Every year, we look forward to honoring our unique culture with Day of the Dead events across the country, and it was an honor to once again partner with the Museum of Latin American Art to host this fantastic fundraiser with the Latino community of Los Angeles."

Siempre Mujer served as the Official Media Partner of the event. Additional event sponsors included Official Food Sponsor HERDEZ^® Brand, the No. 1 salsa brand in Mexico, which provided a bountiful spread of festive food and the face painting stations; Ancestry, which debuted its new Ancestry Mexico site, and offered on-site access including Ancestry's more than 200 million new Mexican records never before available online; el Jimador tequila, which provided specialty cocktails; Korbel, which provided champagne; and Event Partner Mexico Tourism Board.

"We're committed to helping our Latino community thrive, and there's no better way to give back than to support the arts," says Siempre Mujer Associate Publisher Veronica Viviana Wilson. "The Museum of Latin American Art is a critical asset to Long Beach and Los Angeles, and we thank our returning sponsors and new event partners for joining together to help this celebrated cultural institution thrive."

Siempre Mujer will also serve as the Official Media Partner of Love Never Dies, the first-annual Day of the Dead ball at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m.

ABOUT SIEMPRE MUJER

Launched in 2005 by Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP, www.meredith.com), Siempre Mujer is the only magazine written for, by and about the modern U.S. Hispanic woman who is actualizing her goal of success. With fresh, authentic and inspiring content, Siempre Mujer has become one of the leading Spanish language women's magazines and the Latina's source for the things she cares about most; beauty, style, fitness, fashion, arts, culture, and career, helping her be the best woman she can be, a leader, a doer, and a role model. Siempre Mujer reaches 1.8 million readers every issue, and is published on a bi-monthly basis. SiempreMujer.com provides the latest in beauty and fashion trends, and original editorial content about relationships, current events, celebrity news and entertainment.

About the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

Founded in 1996, the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art. With its physical expansion complete, MOLAA's focus is on its position as a multidisciplinary institution providing a platform for cross-cultural dialogue by educating visitors about the rich artistic heritage of Latin America and its relevance to our cultural experience today. This is accomplished through the presentation of a significant permanent collection, traveling exhibitions of Latin American artists ranging from masters to emerging artists, and engaging educational and cultural programs.

For more information visit www.molaa.org.

SOURCE Siempre Mujer

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