Dr. Clayton Lawrence Honored by the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Washington, DC, May 29, 2014 --(PR.com)-- LEAP Foundation DC Chairman, Dr. Clayton G. Lawrence, was announced as one of the 2014 Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) award winners earlier this week for his work in the non-profit sector and service to the D.C. community. Since 2009, LEAP Foundation DC, under the direction of Dr. Lawrence, has been an active and dedicated community partner that has participated in a number of outreach initiatives primarily benefiting minority and disadvantaged communities, including youth groups, senior citizen groups, and other nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Lawrence, recognizing that Hispanic, African-American, and immigrant communities are disproportionately represented as having a greater number individuals with significant health issues, has utilized his non-profit foundation to bring health education and training opportunities to these often overlooked and underserved groups in the forms of youth fitness camps, health seminars, and participation in community events. He is recognized as an expert fitness leader in the community, having earned 41 marathon medals for running 5700 miles on four continents, in five countries, and 11 states since 2011, and he hopes that his personal health and wellness journey will inspire and lead others who follow his example.

In addition to his focus on improving minority health, having come from a family that fully instilled and emphasized the importance of education, Dr. Lawrence is deeply passionate about acknowledging the accomplishments of young, talented individuals driven by a desire to learn. Through his partnership with Latino Student Fund and its Executive Director Mrs. Maria Fernanda Borja, as well as other youth education programs, the Dr. Clayton G. Lawrence Endowment for Academic Excellence Scholarship has been awarded to deserving minority high school students to support their pursuit of post-secondary education.

“To be honored by the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a testament to the work that LEAP Foundation DC has committed itself to, as it constantly strives to provide equal access to health education and training opportunities for members of all communities, especially our minority communities,” Dr. Lawrence stated. “We would like to thank the GWHCC for its recognition of our outreach efforts within the Hispanic community and we consider this a welcomed challenge to work towards impacting more lives now than ever before.”

Recognized alongside Dr. Lawrence, in the categories of academia, government, and cooperative medicine, were Dr. Fernando Pagan, Medical Director of the National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence and Professor of Neurology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Dr. Hortencia M. Hornbeak, Associate Director for Scientific Review and Policy at the National Institutes of Health and National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Carlos Picone, Partner at Chevy Chase Pulmonary Associates.

“It is with great honor that we recognize all of these outstanding doctors,” said Angela Franco, GWHCC President and CEO. “We have seen firsthand the important role of doctors in our lives and their desire to enrich the health and wellbeing of our community. This is why we believe that now is the perfect time to recognize this special group of professionals.”

The GWHCC 38th Annual Gala will be held on June 6th at the Marriot Marquis beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased until June 2nd at www.gwhcc.org/gala.