Contact: Catherine Easby-Smith
(202) 833-0060
manacatherine@aol.com

Washington, D.C., September 23, 2003 - MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA) will host its 14th annual Las Primeras® Awards Gala on Thursday, September 25, 2003 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC Las Primeras honors Latinas who have achieved "firsts" in their career or field. This black tie event is one of the key events held during the kick-off week of Hispanic Heritage Month and approximately 300 public, private, and non-profit sector leaders as well as Members of Congress and key administration officials attend the event every year.

Alma Morales Riojas, President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA) announced the names of this year's Las Primeras® awardees as well as the recipients of the HerMANO and HerMANA Awards, Corporation of the Year, and the new HERMANITAS® Award.

This year, MANA will honor women from many fields: Arts, Barbara Martinez-Jitner, Executive Producer of American Family; Business, Maria de Lourdes Sobrino, Founder and CEO of Lulu's Desserts; Communications, Gloria Rodriguez, President of MAPA Communications; Education, Maria L. Tukeva, Principal of Bell Multicultural High School; Leadership, The Honorable Petra Jimenez Maes, Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court; Military Service, Linda Garcia Cubero, first Latina to graduate from a military academy; Public Service, Irma Maldonado, President of HMA Associates, Inc.; and Sports, Jennifer Rodriguez, Olympic Bronze-Medalist in Speedskating.

Past recipients of the Las Primeras® Award include the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first Latina elected to Congress; Dr. Antonia Novello, first Latina to become Surgeon General; Dr. Ellen Ochoa, first Latina astronaut; and the Honorable Rosario Marin, United States Treasurer, and the first Latina immigrant to hold a position at this high a level in any Administration.

MANA will honor General Motors with the Corporation of the Year Award for the company's strong advocacy and leadership in support of the University of Michigan case on Affirmative Action. Katy Barclay, Global Vice President for Human Resources, will accept the award.

The HerMANO and HerMANA Awards are awarded to individuals who have advanced issues of importance to Latinas and Hispanic communities. This year, MANA honors The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, with the HerMANA Award for her work in creating better opportunities and awareness of Hispanics in the labor force and in business ownership. The Honorable Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) will receive the HerMANO Award for his support of MANA's programs, community programs for Latinos, and legislation to support Hispanics.

The inaugural Hermanitas® Award will be presented to Sandra E. Ulsh, President of the Ford Motor Company Fund. Ms. Ulsh will be recognized for leadership and vision in support of young Latinas, for recognizing the value of mentoring, and for making it possible to train trainers of mentors in the inaugural class of the AvanZamos® Fellowship Program.

Sponsors as of the date of this release are the following: Daimler-Chrysler Corporation Fund as the Platinum Sponsor; General Motors Corporation and State Farm Insurance Companies as Silver Sponsors; American Express, Coors Brewing Company, Ford Motor Company Fund, Lifetime Television, National SER-Jobs for Progress, Nordstrom, PBS, as Bronze Sponsors, and the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) and LatinaStyle Magazine as Friend Sponsors.

To find out more about sponsorship opportunities or Las Primeras, contact the National Office at
(202) 833-0060 or by email at manadaisy@aol.com.

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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 200 girls to Washington DC to a summer institute that includes a briefing at the White House and a visit to the girls' Congressional representatives.