On May 12, 2011 we hosted our 24th Celebrating Women® Breakfast where 2000 women and men joined us in honoring the work of our current grantees and the incredible achievements of our honorees. Thank you for supporting the 2011 Celebrating Women’s Breakfast. Because of your generosity and compassion, we raised $2,065,000 to benefit NYC women, families and children in need.

This year the honorees were: Jennifer Buffett, Maria Hinojosa, and Faith Ringgold. The Vision Award was presented to Jennifer Buffett, President & Co–chair of the NoVo Foundation, for her strategic philanthropy and dedication to the empowerment of women and girls as primary agents of change around the world. Maria Hinojosa received our Celebrating Women Award in acknowledgment of her illustrious career as a journalist focused on social and economic justice issues and bringing them to light in the public sphere as Founder of The Futuro Media Group, and Anchor & Managing Editor at NPR’s Latino USA. Also receiving the Celebrating Women Award was Faith Ringgold for her achievements as an inspiring artist, author, activist and feminist whose work has been recognized for more than 40 years as groundbreaking for women and families worldwide.

Sade Baderinwa, News Anchor for ABC’s top rated Eyewitness News, took the stage as our Emcee for the morning. Sade infused the room with her energy and enthusiasm to kick–off the early morning celebration of our grantee partners, the honorees, and their work.

The program began with a performance by the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Association. Soon after, the breakfast Co–Chairs Susan R. Cullman, Tuhina De O’Connor and Regan A. Solmo welcomed our guests and opened the program which began with remarks from our distinguished honorees who spoke eloquently about the importance of being part of a community that collectively engages in accelerating social and economic justice for women and families in NYC and the world.

This year’s grantee speakers from Urban Justice Center and the Audre Lorde Project brought the event full circle when they shared their stories of courage and transformation with the audience. These two inspiring young women acknowledged the Foundation for its funding to the grantee organizations that opened doors in their lives when no one else would.

We honor all of our supporters – donors, grantee partners, and volunteers – for their dedication to making a difference for women and families in New York City and for making this year’s breakfast a success!