[3] The award was first presented to Cuban American musician and producer Emilio Estefan in 2000 for increasing public awareness of Latin music.
The 2004 award went to Carlos Santana, who founded the Milagro Foundation in 1998 with his wife, which "supports young people involved in the arts, health and education".
[9] Puerto Rican entertainer Ricky Martin received the award in 2006 after his foundation launched the People for Children project, which works to eliminate human trafficking.
[10] Juan Luis Guerra, known for popularizing merengue and bachata music, received the award the following year for founding a non-profit organization that has helped build hospitals, churches and recreation centers in the Dominican Republic.
[14] Since its inception, the award has been presented to musicians originating from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Panama, Italy, and the United States.