LOS ANGELES, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kate del Castillo, from the Telemundo record-breaking show "La Reina del Sur" and Rico Rodriguez, from the Emmy® award-winning show "Modern Family," will be honored at the 2nd Annual St. Jude 'Estrellas por la Vida' (Stars for Life) gala on April 15, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. at the Club Nokia at LA Live, in Los Angeles, CA. The event, which benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, is a celebration of life and gives back to kids who are battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases at St. Jude, the nation's top ranked children's cancer hospital.

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The star-studded evening will also feature many of today's top Latin and main-stream celebrities who will walk the red carpet in support of  St. Jude, such as Christian de la Fuente, Eduardo Yanez, Beto Cuevas, Cristian Chavez, and Jessica Maldonado among others.  Guests will enjoy live performances by renowned jazz trumpet master and classical musician Arturo Sandoval and rock-pop superstar in the making Gustavo Galindo. Riani Rodriguez, Rico's older sister and actress, will serve as one of the award presenters for the Estrellas por la Vida gala.

The evening will honor Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, from the Telemundo mini-series "La Reina del Sur," for her international humanitarian efforts and her contributions to the entertainment industry. "I am touched to be recognized by such a caring organization as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and I am happy to help in any way I can. Knowing that children who are fighting such deadly diseases have a safe place to turn to and are provided with everything they need makes me proud to be a part of this great organization," said del Castillo. In 2009, del Castillo was named Ambassador for the Mexican Commission on Human Rights.

Estrellas por la Vida will also recognize Rico Rodriguez for his work as a young philanthropist and supporter of pediatric healthcare and the local community. "I am so happy to be recognized by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and I am really looking forward to the Estrellas por la Vida gala. At the end of last year, I had the opportunity to hang out with Carson, a St. Jude patient who is now cancer-free. Carson and I got to do a little holiday shopping for the kids at St. Jude," said Rico. "Meeting Carson and knowing that right now there are kids my age and younger battling cancer at St. Jude really makes me want to help make a difference in their lives," he added.

St. Jude has made great discoveries in how to treat deadly childhood diseases like cancer, saving the lives of kids around the world.  Doctors from all over the world send some of their toughest cases and sickest patients to St. Jude.  St. Jude relies primarily on the public's generosity to support its lifesaving mission.  It costs $1.6 million to operate the hospital every day and more than 70 percent of that funding comes from events like Estrellas por la Vida. Through its International Outreach Program (IOP), St. Jude has clinics in 15 countries including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile and Brazil. The IOP aims to improve the survival rates of children with catastrophic illnesses worldwide, through the sharing of knowledge, technology and organizational skills.

The gala is sponsored by Adriana's Insurance, American Airlines, AEG, Alaska Airlines, Beringer Vineyards, Coca-Cola, FAMSA, Iberoamericana, Metro PCS, Tequila Don Pilar, and Tropicana Las Vegas. Highlights of the silent auction include a VIP concert experience to Los Lonely Boys at the Greek Theater, roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations to Cabo San Lucas courtesy of American Airlines and Iberoamericana Travel, a Tropicana Las Vegas VIP package complete with 2-night stay, dinner, spa treatments and tickets to a comedy show and night club, and a VIP experience at Beringer Vineyards in Napa, Calif.  Media sponsors include mun2, Telemundo, Univision Communications.

"Adriana's Insurance Services Inc. is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. We believe in supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital because they provide hope to many children and families in need," said Adriana Gallardo, CEO of Adriana's Insurance Services Inc. "In order to have a clear vision in life you must first look into your own heart and find the willingness to make a difference with contributions and your participation.  We all have the power and ability to help others.  I encourage everyone to partake in this benevolent event and be compassionate of its great cause."

To purchase tickets, information on sponsorship opportunities or to donate silent auction items, please call (800) 227-6737, email [email protected] or visit www.stjude.org/lahispanicgala.  Members of the media wishing to cover this event are asked to register prior to the event by emailing [email protected] or by calling (305) 260-4495.

About St. Jude

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. St. Jude was named the nation's top children's cancer hospital in the 2010-11 Best Children's Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital