Women of Color awards luncheon set for March

The 14th annual YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County's "A Tribute to Women of Color" awards luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 4 at La Fontaine Bleu in Glen Burnie.

It is co-sponsored by the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Nationwide Insurance and Financial Services and M & T Bank. This event is headed by Angela Hudson and co-chaired by Gloria Criss. The 2006 Awards Luncheon program chairperson is Jacqueline Anderson with Irene Mills serving as co-chair. Honorary chairman is the Rev. Sheryl Menendez.

Each year "A Tribute to Women of Color" awards Future Leader scholarships to bright young women from Anne Arundel County who are high academic achievers and honors unsung heroines in the community. Last year, 30 young women received college / university and cash scholarships valued at more than $300,000. These scholarships are funded by local businesses, individuals and the academic community.

Future Leader awards are presented to young women who demonstrate potential for future leadership.

Good Samaritan, Service to Youth, and Pathfinder awards are presented to women who enhance the quality of life in their community through volunteer service, work with young people in the community, church or school, and contributions and leadership that bring about positive social change.

A Tribute to Women of Color, a program of the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, is an organization inclusive of ethnic groups, which strives to identify and address educational, political, health, family and social issues. The organization focuses on improving the quality of life and spiritual development for all women.

Tickets are $35. To reserve tickets, call Alma Cropper at 410-268-1024.

For more information, call 410-626-7800, Ext. 249.

- No Jumps-

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.