The Bears are proud to join the national celebration of Latino Heritage Month 2024 from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, recognizing the rich contributions of Latino culture and history within the organization and the broader community.

The Bears will have a series of moments for the Chicagoland community to engage with the club throughout Latino Heritage Month, brought to you by Miller Lite.

Community Engagement

Throughout Latino Heritage Month and year-round, the Bears take part in events that resonate with Latino culture and heritage. Bears players regularly volunteer on their days off during the season, and staff members also engage in community efforts, reflecting the team's commitment to making a positive impact in Chicagoland's Latino neighborhoods. Here's how the Bears are engaging with the community:

• Mexican Independence Day Parade: On Sept. 15, the Bears will participate in the Mexican Independence Day Parade in the Little Village neighborhood, with a co-branded float presented in partnership with Miller Lite. Several members of the Bears front office, along with Staley Da Bear, the Monster Squad and the Chicago Bears Drumline, brought to you by Shell, will all be part of the celebration. The parade's theme, "Celebrando Nuestras Tradiciones," highlights the rich traditions and cultural heritage of the Mexican community.

• Mini Monsters Clinics: Throughout Latino Heritage Month, the Bears will host Mini Monsters clinics, brought to you by Advocate Children's Hospital, in predominantly Latino communities, including the suburbs of Waukegan and Elgin. These clinics focus on educating elementary students about healthy eating, physical activity and proper hydration through non-contact football drills, guided by Bears players and alumni.

• High School Latino Heritage Game: On Sept. 27, the Bears will support the annual High School Latino Heritage Game at Solorio High School in Chicago's Gage Park neighborhood, which will highlight the school's contribution to the sport's growth and celebrate Latino culture with the community. The event will feature both girls flag football and boys varsity football, with Solorio taking on Washington High School. The Bears will provide entertainment, including Staley Da Bear, the Chicago Bears drumline, a DJ, fan giveaways and more to recreate the gameday atmosphere of Soldier Field. Former Bears offensive lineman Roberto Garza will be in attendance to speak with players and fans and sign autographs.

• Carrera de los Muertos 5K: On Nov. 2, members of the Chicago Bears front office will participate in the Carrera de los Muertos 5K (Race of the Dead 5K) in the Pilsen neighborhood. This fundraising race celebrates Latino culture and raises money for the UNO GirlsMPowered program, which provides essential programming to empower young girls. The GirlsMPowered program is designed to empower and inspire young Latina girls from the Pilsen community through networking, leadership development and mentorship opportunities, promoting confidence and growth in both their education and future professional careers.

Latino Heritage Month Game vs. Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 29

The Bears' annual Latino Heritage Month Game, brought to you by Miller Lite, will take place during Week 4's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field. Fans can expect an exciting blend of cultural festivities, special live performances, in-game recognitions and exclusive giveaways that honor the significant contributions of the Latino community. Fans can look forward to:

• Pre-Game Live Performances: Traditional Latin music will fill Soldier Field, featuring two standout performances. Mariachi Sirenas, Chicago's first all-female mariachi group, will perform at the Miller Lite Ultimate Tailgate at the Field Museum, blending Mexican heritage with a modern twist in their vibrant performances. Ballet Folklorico de Chicago, the city's largest Mexican folkloric dance organization, will perform in the Vizzy Hard Seltzer Fan Zone, displaying colorful and dynamic traditional Mexican dances that celebrate Mexico's rich cultural heritage.

• National Anthem: The national anthem will be performed by Mexican American Jesus Ramos, a proud Pilsen native making his mark in the Mariachi music scene. He also serves as a Canadian Pacific Railroad Police Special Agent.

• Halftime Performance: Mariachi Herencia de México, the Chicago-based and two-time Latin Grammy nominated band, will deliver a special halftime performance, brought to you by Miller Lite. Rooted in the rich tradition of mariachi music from Guadalajara and Mexico City, this energetic and virtuosic group has elevated the genre in Chicago, captivating audiences across North America with their blend of tradition and modern flair.

• Spanish-Language Broadcast: Game highlights will feature the Spanish-language broadcast team, Omar Ramos and Mateo Moreno, enhancing the experience for Spanish-speaking fans on Latino Mix 93.5 FM.

• "Bear Down" in Spanish: The Spanish translation of "Bear Down" will be displayed on ribbon panels throughout the stadium, inviting fans to sing along in celebration of the Bears.

• Latino Youth Leader Award: Before the game, the Bears will recognize two outstanding Latino high school students with the Latino Youth Leader Award, which honors their academic excellence, community service, advocacy for the Latino community, leadership skills, character and resilience. These honorees will also serve as honorary captains for the game and will join Bears captains for the coin toss.

• Latino Heritage-Themed Helmets: A special display of Latino Heritage-themed Bears helmets will be featured at Soldier Field, with each helmet displaying unique designs that reflect different Latino culture and traditions.

• Latin-Inspired Team Flags: The Chicago Bears Monster Squad will present and wave Latin-inspired team flags as players run out of the tunnel during pregame introductions.

• Gameday Giveaway: Special Latino Heritage Month giveaways designed by local artist Alecks Cruz will be available at the Miller Lite Ultimate Tailgate, including limited-edition hats and posters. Fans can follow Cruz on social media (@aleckscruz) to explore his work and the inspiration behind these exclusive designs.

Internal Highlights

The Bears maintain a commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and safe workplace for all staff. For Latino Heritage Month, the Chicago Bears will highlight that commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the organization through a range of cultural initiatives, including:

• Spotlighting Latina Student Voice: The Bears will collaborate with recent Lewis University graduate and gameday fan services employee Samara Martinez to publish an article on ChicagoBears.com and the Chicago Bears Official App, brought to you by Verizon. In her piece, Samara will reflect on her experiences as a Latina, her cultural heritage and what Latino Heritage Month and the team's theme for the month, "Por La Cultura," mean to her.

• Educational Initiatives: The Bears are partnering with local Latino museums and community organizations to host educational sessions at Halas Hall. These sessions are intended to provide informative and educational content to engage with the community in order to help them learn and understand more about Latino culture and history.

• Culinary Celebrations: The Bears culinary team at Halas Hall will introduce new Latino-inspired dishes to the menu, recommitting to celebrating and highlighting the rich flavors of Latino cuisine.

• Cultural Displays: Participating Latino Bears staff members will lend personal items for displays throughout Halas Hall, displaying authentic artwork, pottery, crafts, symbols and other cultural pieces from various Latino communities. These displays will offer a unique cultural education opportunity, highlighting the items' deep significance for staff members' heritage and traditions and bringing a greater understanding of different Latino cultures.

To follow along with the Bears' Latino Heritage Month celebrations, visit ChicagoBears.com or follow the team on social media @ChicagoBears and @BearsOutreach.