Honoring Jennifer & Peter Buffett and NoVo Foundation  among other outstanding activists and philanthropists

Sarah Jones, Holly Near to perform

Hosted by Gloria Steinem and Sara K. Gould

New York, NY—May 20, 2010—Tonight the Ms. Foundation for Women will be joined by prominent members of the entertainment, business, philanthropic and not-for-profit communities to celebrate the Ms. Foundation’s 22nd Annual Gloria Awards, a tribute to grassroots women activists and philanthropists who ignite change on behalf of women, families and communities across the US.

The event, which includes a dinner and awards gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City, will be hosted by Ms. Foundation President & CEO, Sara K. Gould, and Gloria Steinem, a co-founder of the organization.

Since its founding in 1973, the Ms. Foundation has granted more than $50 million to organizations working to build women’s collective power in urban and rural areas across the United States. Through its annual Gloria Awards, the Foundation honors the remarkable achievements of grassroots activists and their supporters whose courage, leadership and vision for social change move us closer to our shared vision of an equitable and inclusive democracy.

“As always, this year’s Gloria Award winners are a remarkable group of activists and philanthropists who understand that, in the words of Nelson Mandela, ‘Vision with action can change the world,’” says Sara K. Gould. “Whether they are expanding access to affordable child care and health care, supporting innovative approaches to child sexual abuse prevention, or promoting just, comprehensive immigration reform for women and families, the phenomenal accomplishments of tonight’s awardees prove that, together, vision and action are a powerful force for transformative change. We are so proud to honor their work.”

The 2010 Gloria Awards are supported by a host of businesses, organizations and individuals, including the event chair, Kayrita M. Anderson, and honorary co-chair, Bonnie Schaefer, former co-CEO of Claire’s Stores, Inc.

 

The 2010 Philanthropic Leadership Awardees are:

Philanthropic Vision Award: Jennifer and Peter Buffett and NoVo Foundation
Jennifer and Peter Buffett and the NoVo Foundation will be recognized for their pioneering work to end child sexual abuse, in partnership with the Ms. Foundation for Women.

 

Woman of Vision and Action Award: Jane Comer, Birmingham, AL
Through her philanthropic endeavors, Jane Comer has helped to improve the lives of countless women and girls.

Special Tribute: Katie Grover, Greenwich, CT
Katie Grover will receive a special award in honor of her outstanding nine years of service on the Ms. Foundation for Women’s Board of Trustees, including her leadership as chair since 2005.

The 2010 Women of Vision Awardees are:

 

Carol Burnett, Founder and Executive Director, Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative, Biloxi, MS: Carol advocates for improved child-care policies and greater public investment in child-care subsidy programs at this statewide non-profit, while also serving as executive director of Moore Community House, an organization providing comprehensive programs for low-income families, including a construction training program for women.

Silvia Henríquez, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH), Washington, DC & NYC: Under Silvia’s leadership NLIRH has become one of the leading organizations working to advance the reproductive health, rights and justice for Latinas in the US. Silvia and NLIRH have played a key advocacy role in promoting health care reform to address the priorities of low-income women, women of color and immigrants.

Jasmin Woodbury, Youth Organizer, DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality) Providence, RI: At age 16, Jasmin became the youngest paid youth organizer of DARE—an economic justice organization—and successfully recruited numerous youth in Providence to address issues affecting their community, including a campaign to address school drop-out rates.

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About the Ms. Foundation for Women
The Ms. Foundation for Women, a social justice foundation, delivers grants, capacity-building and leadership development to over 150 grassroots and national advocacy organizations throughout the U.S. Ms. Foundation support enables groups to create connections across issues, constituencies and policymaking levels to strengthen social movements and ignite change on behalf of women, families and communities. Since 1973, when it was co-founded by Gloria Steinem, the Foundation has granted more than $50 million to organizations in rural and urban areas nationwide.

For more information, Contact:
Ellen Braune, Vice President, Communications
(212) 709-4450; ebraune@ms.foundation.org