Cosmetics Giant Names Founder Inspirational

New York, NY, September 12, 2007 - Dora M. Abreu, Founding Mother of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., and chartering Hermana of the Gamma Gamma Chapter (Graduate/Alumnae Chapter of Metro NY/NJ Area) has been named one of 10 inspirational women by Maybelline for making a difference in the community through education. As one of the winners in the Empowerment Through Education Program, Dora will be featured in the November 5th issue of People and the December issues of People en Español and Essence magazines. The winners not only received the opportunity in taking part in photo shoots for these publications, their achievements will be honored at a Nov. 1 luncheon and each will receive a $10,000 donation to the charity of her choice. "It's exciting and humbling," said Dora Maria Abreu, 39, of Washington Heights, NY who won for her work mentoring teachers and developing scholarships at her alma mater, SUNY Stony Brook, for female students in the fields of engineering, science and mathematics. Dora will donate her award money to the program FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization that fosters children's interest in technology.

Ms. Abreu has always given back to her community, whether through one of the various organizations she is affiliated with or independently. She is not only a life time member to Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., SHPE, NSBE, SWE, NAACP, and the SUNY Stony Brook Alumni Association - all organizations that are committed to giving back to the community but she also serves on various boards which are actively doing educational programs nationwide and even internationally. She sits on her local community board and is very active in mentoring and tutoring high school and college students in areas such as reading, math, engineering, and technology. She has created her own computer workshops for students of all levels and even adults. Recently, she took part in a good will trip to the Dominican Republic where part of her contribution was both creating and conducting training that taught teachers how to use and troubleshoot computers and how to use them in their classrooms effectively.

Dora Maria Abreu has given to educate the youth and the community in an area where the resources are limited. Dora Maria Abreu is an inspiration to our organization and to the community as a whole. We are so proud that Maybelline has recognized her accomplishments.

To learn more, please visit the full article at the NY Daily News online: www.nydailynews.com

About Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. (SIA): Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. (SIA) was founded on September 29, 1990 by a diverse group of women with the goal of creating an organization that would help their communities, unite women, and uphold a set of distinct goals. Its dedication to scholarship, service and professional development within the Latino community has grown beyond New York, with chapters in several states including: New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia and Florida.

SIA is more than a sorority; we are a family and network of professional, strong and dedicated women leaders. We are also a 501(c)7 tax-exempt organization and we work in conjunction with the Solidaridad Inspiración Amistad Community Foundation, Inc.- a 501(c)3 Community Foundation committed to scholarship, service and professional development within Latino communities nationally. Fore more information visit www.hermandad-sia.org

Contact: Wendy Toribio
Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.
marketing@hermandad-sia.org
www.hermandad-sia.org