FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Diana Gaona

PHONE: 773-206-9200

Mujeres Latinas en Acción Presents Leadership Awards

CHICAGO, IL, November 17, 2010 – Mujeres Latinas en Acción is proud to announce the 2010 Maria Mangual Leadership Award to Clara Lopez, Vice President of Children and Youth Programs at El Valor and to the Founders of the Chicago Foundation for Women: Iris Krieg, Sunny Fischer, Marjorie Craig Benton, and Lucia Woods Lindley. The Emerging Leader Award will be presented to Maria “Doña Chuy” Gonzalez.

Named after Mujeres Latinas en Acción’s founder who passed away in 2007, the Maria Mangual Leadership Award is an annual award given to an individual who exemplifies Maria Mangual’s characteristics of Leadership and Advocacy for women.

“There is no better way to commemorate Maria Mangual than to recognize the tremendous work that others have done to benefit the Latina community,” remarked Maria S. Pesqueira, President and CEO of Mujeres. “Maria devoted her adult life to providing leadership, education and social activism that reflect her original vision and resulted in the creation of services to Latinas in Chicago and beyond.”

Clara Lopez has been committed to help children, and her work has helped propel El Valor to a national model of early childhood education services. As founders of CFW, Iris Krieg, Sunny Fischer, Marjorie Craig Benton and Lucia Woods Lindley have invested in nonprofit programs to help women and girls see themselves as advocates and leaders for their communities. Maria Gonzalez also known as “Doña Chuy,” a graduate of the Latina Leadership Program at Mujeres, has become a leader and advocate in the Pilsen community and worked with Mujeres Latinas en Acción to carry on their mission of empowering Latinas.

Since Maria Mangual established Mujeres Latinas en Acción in 1973, Mujeres has become the oldest incorporated not-for-profit social service agency in the U.S. serving Latinas. From a humble grassroots beginning, Mujeres has grown to serve more than 8,000 clients annually, providing a variety of programs for Latinas and their families.

For questions or more information regarding the recipients, visit our website at www.mujereslatinasenaccion.org or contact Diana at (773) 206-9200 or Diana@mujereslat.org.

About Mujeres Latinas en Acción

Founded in 1973, Mujeres is one of the longest standing Latina incorporated organizations in the United States primarily administered by, and working on behalf of, Latina women. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is a bilingual/bicultural agency that empowers Latinas through providing services, which reflect their values and culture and being an advocate on the issues that make a difference in their lives. www.mujereslatinasenaccion.org

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