Jorge M. & Darlene Pérez and Frank & Haydée Rainieri were honored for their outstanding contributions to the international appreciation of the Spanish-speaking world.
Her Majesty Queen Sofía traveled from Spain to Miami to present the Sophia Awards for Excellence during a major international gala held on Saturday, March 21st, 2026, at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).
In 2026, the Sophia Awards for Excellence were presented to two distinguished couples whose leadership and vision have shaped communities across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean: Jorge M. & Darlene Pérez and Frank & Haydée Rainieri.
Pilar Lladó, Chair of the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, stated: “The awards we present are not merely honorary prizes. They are a way of recognizing those who have devoted their talent, creativity and leadership to building bridges, enriching our societies and bringing together worlds that, although different, share common aspirations.”
During the ceremony, The Honorable Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade County, presented an official Proclamation, issued by the Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, recognizing the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute’s leadership in advancing cultural understanding and educational initiatives that highlight the contributions of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world to the history of the United States. The Proclamation also acknowledged the Institute’s role in launching the America&Spain250 initiative in Florida as part of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, and officially declared March 21, 2026, as “Queen Sofía Spanish Institute Day” in Miami-Dade County. Pilar Lladó accepted the recognition on behalf of the institution.
See the full photo gallery from the gala here
Thank you to the Host Committee of the 2026 Sophia Awards for Excellence and to the Miami Friends of the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute for joining us for a wonderful evening.
We thank our sponsors and partners for their support of the Institute including ES Windows, Grupo Puntacana, Related Group, Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, Santander Private Banking, Ediciones Vaso Roto, Jorge Ordóñez Selections as well as Carolina Herrera, TITIN, Visual Shumacher and Natura Bissé.
