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2009 Neighborhood Dinner
On Tuesday evening, over 200 women and men attended the 2009 Neighborhood Dinner to celebrate three visionary women leaders of Brooklyn at the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music. For the last 15 years, the Dinner has recognized the power of women acting in and for their communities and has honored exceptional women leaders who have demonstrated commitment to neighborhood-based work on behalf of women and families in New York City.

This year’s recipients of the Neighborhood Leadership Award were Laurie Cumbo, Founder and Executive Director of Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, Benita R. Miller, Founder and Executive Director of Brooklyn Young Mother’s Collective, and Barbara Turk, Senior Fellow of Community Resource Exchange and former Executive Director of the Brooklyn YWCA. There was a special tribute to the late Sister Mary Paul Janchill, the Co-Founder of The Center for Family Life and the 2005 recipient of the Neighborhood Leadership Award. [more]

2009 Fall Dinner
The New York Women’s Foundation’s Stepping Out and Stepping Up honored Elizabeth and Herbert Sturz and Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas D. Kristof. The Stepping Up Award is presented to recognized New Yorkers who serve as role models of courageous leadership, vision and commitment to women and girls as individuals and as partners. The evening began with a cocktail reception attended by General Consul of Mexico Beltran, Mayor Bloomberg, Council Speaker Quinn, which followed with dinner and dancing and included a special performance by Grammy Award–winning recording artist, Mary J. Blige, who sang stunning renditions of her hits “No More Drama” and “One” to an amazed crowd. Mary dedicated her performance to the power and unity of women. [more]

2009 Celebrating Women® Breakfast
On May 14, 2009, over 2000 women and men attended our 22nd Celebrating Women® Breakfast honoring the work of our current grantees and the accomplishments of trailblazing women.

This year’s honorees were: Ambassador Swanee Hunt, whose illustrious career as a diplomat, professor, and philanthropist spans decades; Grammy Award winner Angèlique Kidjo, one of the most electrifying performers in pop music and UNICEF and OXFAM goodwill Ambassador; Lilly Ledbetter, whose indefatigable advocacy for pay equity led to the creation of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into law by President Obama on January 29, 2009; and Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner as well as Oscar nominee, Queen Latifah, acclaimed actress, musician, model and entrepreneur.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg applauded NYWF® for being the “source of hope and support for so many women living in poverty” and noted that “support is even more important now given these tough economic times.” On behalf of NYWF, Queen Latifah launched RISE–NYC! a three year initiative in response to the harshest economic downturn in decades. The initiative will raise a minimum of $10 million to New York City community–based organizations working with women and families hardest hit by the economic crisis. Grantee partner speakers Shaquana Blount, participant of Girls Education and Mentoring Services and Leslie Campbell, participant of College and Community Fellowship, moved audiences with their stories of courage, perseverance and transformation. Angèlique Kidjo closed the morning with a spellbinding performance.

We thank all our supporters – donors, partners, and volunteers – for making this year’s breakfast a success!

For more information about RISE–NYC! risenyc@nywf.org or www.risenyc.org

The Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation Honored New York Women’s Foundation® at Celebrating Bronx Women Entrepreneurs Event
New York, NY–On March 31, 2009, The New York Women’s Foundation® (NYWF®) was honored by Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation, during its Celebrating Bronx Women Entrepreneurs event. The award ceremony took place at the New York Botanical Garden, located at 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY.

NYWF® was presented the Visionary Award for its significant contributions in fostering the efforts of women entrepreneurs and of nonprofit organizations by providing vital social and economic empowerment services to the women of New York.

"The work of the Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation truly makes a difference in New York State. They embody what is possible when each of us invests in making our communities a better place for everyone to live and work." said Ana Oliveira, President and CEO, NYWF® "This is an important moment," Ms. Oliveira continued, "as a whole, more women have become poor in the last twenty years. Positively, the number of women business owners has increased. This is not a time for shyness. We must seize the moment and shape it – and offer solutions."

Celebrating Bronx Women Entrepreneurs was sponsored by US Small Business Administration, Citibank, Monroe College and others, and also featured booths by graduates of the Women’s Business Resource Center. The event concluded with a special musical performance featuring The Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls 1st Grade Violinist, who delighted guests and received a standing ovation. (more details)

The Economic Status of Women in New York State
Did you know...

Women in New York are more likely to be poor now than they were at the end of the 80s?

Women only earn 78 cents for every dollar men earn?

Women in New York State fare worse economically than they did in 1989, according to The New York Women’s Foundation’s (NYWF®) new report, The Economic Status of Women in New York State. The report, researched and authored by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), examines how women in New York State fare in two areas: employment and earnings and social and economic autonomy. While the report finds substantial potential for women’s economic progress, it also depicts a stark and alarming portrait of poverty in a wealthy society, particularly for women of color.[more]

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