Although Ruben Barrales sees himself as one of many Latino leaders in the county, the San Diego Chargers thought otherwise.

    The Bolts selected Barrales, who serves as the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer, as the recipient of the National Football League’s Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award.

    The award, which is sponsored in part by Bud Light, recognizes the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market. The Chargers honored Barrales on Sept. 25 at the team’s Hispanic Heritage game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

    “It is truly an honor,” Barrales said about the award. “I want to thank the San Diego Chargers and the NFL for honoring Latinos, and for recognizing us as a community.”

    As president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is committed to providing broadbased economic value for its members and the international region, Barrales is a key figure in local and regional business.

    Asked if he considered himself a role model for other Latinos, Barrales said that he is just one of many trying to do the best for the community.

    “There are many, many others that also deserve an award like this,” said Barrales, who also currently sits on the board of directors for the Public Policy Institute of California. “This award recognizes the hard work all of us are doing to improve the com munity at large.”

   During the game, which the Chargers won, Qualcomm Stadium was filled with Mexican flavor with halftime performances by Mariachi Real de San Diego and traditional ballet folklorico dancers from Chula Vista.

   That day, Barrales twitted: “Thanks @Chargers & NFL for honor today. Nice victory, too! Gracias, Chargers!”

   With the award, Bud Light will donate $2,000 to a local Hispanic community organization of Barrales’ choosing.

   Barrales has chosen the Neighborhood House Association to receive this donation. The Neighborhood House Association is San Diego’s largest multipurpose human services agency, providing employment, health care, child, family and senior services.

   Barrales has previously served as president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network in San Jose, Calif. He has also served as deputy assistant to former President George W. Bush and as director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. In 1992, he became the first the first Hispanic elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

   “Bud Light is recognizing 32 great leaders in each of the 32 NFL cities with this award,” said Margarita Flores, vice president of community affairs for Anheuser-Busch. “We applaud all the recipients for their work in making a difference in and improving their local communities.”

   The NFL celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month during the third week of the 2011 season.

   To learn more about the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and Barrales’s work, please visit www.sdchamber.org.