PRESS RELEASE Contact: Zenaida Mendoza

213.243.0004
zenaida.mendoza@national.alpfa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women of ALPFA Recognized as “Advocate of the Year” by the Ana Maria Arias
Memorial Business Fund

Los Angeles, CA – Women of ALPFA (WOA), ALPFA’s national program for Latinas, received the “Advocate
of the Year” award at the Ana Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund 2010 Gala Awards in Washington D.C. on
Nov. 12, 2010. This award is given in recognition of exceptional business and community achievement. Ms.
Frances Garcia, Inspector General of the US Government Accountability Office and founding member of the
Women of ALPFA, accepted the award on behalf of ALPFA.

“Nine years ago, ALPFA had 20 women at the first Women of ALPFA breakfast in Orlando, Florida, and
approximately five were presidents of local chapters,” said Ms. Garcia. “At the 2010 ALPFA Annual
Convention, we had over 2,000 participants at the luncheon and now more than 50% of the chapter
presidents and national board members are women. I interpret these results as ‘we are being heard.’”

Among the guests at the event were Members of Congress, White House executives, and senior members of
the Administration, as well as Latino entrepreneurs, women business owners, and civic and community
leaders from across the country.

The WOA program was started in 2002 by visionary professional Latinas with a purpose of creating
opportunities for professional Latinas. Now in it’s eighth year, the program has expanded to include a day of
workshops, a luncheon and panel discussions. The program has also been implemented throughout many
local chapters; in 2009, over 20 WOA events were held across the US.

“We are both honored and humbled to be recognized for our efforts on behalf of Latinas,” said Manny
Espinoza, ALPFA CEO. “What started as an initiative eight years ago to give more access and opportunities to
Latinas, has evolved into a nationwide program affecting professionals, business women and students. We
recognize the talent and leadership of Latinas, and we are a stronger organization because of it.”

Since its establishment in 2002, the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund has been the most respected
and coveted business award program for Latina business owners in the US. The Fund was created to
recognize the accomplishments of Anna Maria Arias, the late founder and editor of LATINA Style Magazine.

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