Released on: September 22, 2008, 12:41 am

Press Release Author: Gerardo Higginson

Industry: Non Profit

Press Release Summary: The Hispanic Women’s Corporation (HWC) is hosting the 23rd
National Hispanic Women’s Conference and Expo on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 9-10, at
the Phoenix Convention Center. “Latina Power: CALL TO ACTION” is this year’s
conference theme. The two-day conference is the largest gathering of Latinas in the
country and will provide leadership and professional development to more than 2,500
participants while raising funds for college scholarships to benefit Latino
students.

Press Release Body: The conference kicks off Thursday, Oct. 9, with a Youth
Leadership Institute targeting approximately 500 local-area school students. The
Latina Power Expo will be open to the public both days – FREE of charge. Expect more
than 150 exhibitors, including private, government, non-profit and health
organizations. Various exhibitors will be accepting resumes and some will offer
celebrity autograph sessions.

Attendees will also experience the Hispanic Women’s Corporation and Latino Future
Magazine Charity Fashion Show and Reception presented by Macy’s and Saturn, a
Division of General Motors, on Thursday, Oct. 9. Lingerie designer and Project
Runway favorite, Ricky Lizalde, will be the Fashion Show’s special guest, courtesy
of Saturn. In addition, the Fashion Show will showcase current styles and trends
from national and international designers as seen in Macy’s stores nationwide.

The Scholarship Benefit Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 10 will honor Rosa Rosales,
national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Mrs.
Rosales has been an icon for the Hispanic community, dedicating much of her energy
to promoting issues on education, civil rights, employment, housing, health,
immigration and the rights for the elderly. 2008 Olympic Wrestling Gold Medal
champion Henry Cejudo will make a special appearance at the luncheon to present the
Latina Leadership award to his mother Nelly Rico, for overcoming obstacles faced as
a single mother in her quest to raise seven children.

This year’s speakers and presenters include Maria Marin. She is an author, radio
host, a national newspaper columnist and an international motivational speaker;
Julie Stav, considered the financial expert for the more than 41 million Hispanics
in the U.S., Kathy Cano-Murillo, known as Crafty Chica, is a nationally syndicated
craft columnist and has become a leading force in America’s craft industry.

Also, CNN correspondent based in Los Angeles, Thelma Gutierrez, will join this
year’s ensemble of special guests. Gutierrez has traveled to Kuwait and Mexico on
assignment; and has reported on numerous issues including human trafficking,
immigration and on the trials and tribulations facing those currently serving in the
U.S. armed forces.

Key sponsors for the conference include:

Diamond Sponsors – Saturn a Division of General Motors, SRP, State Farm Insurance
and Wells Fargo.
Platinum Sponsors - 12 News, azcentral.com, La Voz, The Arizona Republic, Latino
Future Magazine and Prensa Hispana.
Gold Sponsors - APS, Ford Motor Company, Qwest Communications, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Silver Sponsors – Allstate Insurance, American Family Insurance, Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Arizona, Macy’s, Univision and Telefutura Arizona.

The Hispanic Women’s Corporation was founded in 1981 and is a model organization,
recognized as a 501 © (3) non-profit corporation known for being a proactive leader
in the development of Hispanic women. HWC empowers women through its commitment to
the culture by promoting higher education, community involvement, professional
advancement and leadership development for the improvement of Latinas’ cultural
quality of life. For more information on the conference, to register or to purchase
tickets to the fashion show, visit hispanicwomen.org or call 602-954-7995.


Web Site: http://www.hispanicwomen.org

Contact Details: Gerardo Higginson
gerardo.higginson@phoenix.gov