Washington, D.C., January 13, 2004 - MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA) is pleased to announce the second class of its AvanZamos® Fellowship Program. Twenty outstanding MANA members have been selected for this leadership training program primarily sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund and State Farm Insurance Companies, with additional support from Altria Group, Inc.

The AvanZamos® Fellowship Program was established in 2002 to provide a network of trainers of mentors for MANA's National Hermanitas® Mentoring Program. Through this three day program, the class of 20 selected MANA leaders will be trained to directly affect hundreds of women and teens within their communities. The program consists of one day of leadership development from the Gallup Organization, a second day focused on mentoring and mentor-training, and a third day devoted to local and national leadership within MANA.

The twenty women who will participate in this AvanZamos® Fellowship represent MANA chapters and members across the country. Each woman has committed to complete two local mentor-training sessions each year for three years for their chapter or local community. The participants were selected through a competitive application process.

The Fellows for the Class of 2004 are Alma Alvarez Bloomington, IL; Claudia Chavez of San Diego, CA; Zoila Covarrubias of San Antonio, TX; Rebecca J. DeLaRosa of Talahassee, FL; Cecelia Garcia of Española, NM; Bridget Gonzales of Washington, D.C.; Lauren Pacheco of Chicago, IL; Janet Padilla of Detroit, MI; Kirstin Palacios of Orlando, FL; Maria Ramirez of Corpus Christi, TX; Stella J. Ruiz of Kansas City, KS; Lucy Santana of Santa Ana, CA; Heidy Servin-Baez of Alexandria, VA; Dolores Smith of Santa Rosa, CA; Linda Valenzuela of Imperial, CA; Maria D. Villanueva of Santa Rosa, CA; Zoe Younker of Sacramento, CA; Carolyn Zamora of Chantilly, VA; Glendelia Zavala of Edinburg, TX; and Julie Zavala of Detroit, MI.

The Fellowship Program will take place this year from January 29th to February 1, 2003 at the Radisson Hotel & Suites in Austin, Texas. MANA Board Members and Chapter Presidents will join Fellows on the second and third days of this program for the MANA Leadership Institute.

"Each of the AvanZamos® Fellows has demonstrated experience in training adults. This group of trained women will join the first class of AvanZamos® Fellows in training mentors for MANA's Hermanitas® Program. I am confident that each of these incredible women will have a strong impact on her local community thus fulfilling MANA's goal of developing Latina leaders and their respective communities," stated Alma Morales Riojas, President and CEO of MANA.

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MANA, A National Latina Organization, is a nonprofit, advocacy organization headquartered in the nation's capital, Washington, D. C. With chapters across the country, it is the oldest National Latina membership organization in the United States. MANA, whose mission is to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service, and advocacy, envisions a national community of informed Latina activists working to improve the quality of life for all Hispanics. MANA also has the only national young Latina's mentoring program for girls 11 to 17, "HERMANITAS®" which brings over 100 girls to Washington DC to a summer institute that includes a briefing at the White House and a visit to the girls' Congressional representatives Information on MANA can be obtained at the web site: www.hermana.org or send an e-mail to hermana2@aol.com