María Antonia “Toñita” Cay will be recognized for her impact this Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Puerto Rican-born matriarch, who founded and still presides over the Caribbean Social Club in Brooklyn, has been named the 2026 Medallion of Excellence honoree by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501 leadership development organization established in 1978 by organizing members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Toñita will be recognized at the organization’s 49th Annual Awards Gala, an unforgettable evening of recognition, culture, and community, honoring the leaders and changemakers shaping America‘s future during Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, D.C.
For more than five decades, Toñita has made Williamsburg’s Caribbean Social Club a gathering place for generations, bringing people together through music, food and Puerto Rican tradition while ensuring that no one in her community goes without a meal.
Her impact has reached national audiences through appearances including Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and her annual Toñita Fest.
Other honorees include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Maria Hinojosa, the 2026 Medallion of Excellence honoree; 2026 Chair’s Award honoree Joseph M. Acaba, the associate director for mission and strategy at NASA’s Johnson Space Center; and Legacy Award winners Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04) and Rep. Nydia Velasquez (NY-07).
The awards ceremony will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on September 17, 2026.