2008 YWCA Focus Awards Gala April 26, 2008

LOCAL YWCA WOMEN OF THE YEAR HONOREES ANNOUNCED

Santa Monica, CA – April 26, 2008 – The YWCA Santa Monica / Westside announces the selection of four outstanding women for their contributions to the community. The women will be honored at the 2008 YWCA Focus Awards Gala.
The annual event raises fund to support the life-changing programs offered to women and children at the center. These include the Encore breast cancer support and exercise program and the Housing and Education program for young women emancipated from foster care that is celebrating 10 years of service to the community this year. In addition, funds support the YWCA's year-round childcare services, girl's leadership, sports and technology programs, financial literacy and parenting sessions and a host of community activities.
This year’s esteemed honorees include:
Liza Bercovici, creator of everybody dance!, which is a platform for the country's first dance-themed charter school, Gabriella Charter School; she is executive director of the Gabriella Axelrad Education Foundation.
Lois Lee, Ph.D., an internationally recognized advocate for ending the sexual exploitation of young people and the founder and president of Children of the Night.
Dyanne Hayes Nash, an internationally noted advocate of the health and welfare of women and children, whose grantmaking work on behalf of foundations has focused on clean, accessible water, prevention of blindness and services for deaf-blind children, illegal trafficking of girls, obstetric fistula and land mines.
Tessa Albert Warschaw, a distinguished author, psychotherapists/coach, and founder of BTW UNLTD (Big Thinking Women), a groundbreaking organization of women 50+ dedicated to redefining age, creating personal legacies and becoming a recognized force politically, socially and economically.
The 2008 YWCA Focus Awards Gala will be on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Skirball Cultural Center. The cocktail reception begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 7:15 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $225 per person and the proceeds help support the community service programs of the YWCA, which benefit women and children of the community. To purchase tickets or make a contribution in support of the event, contact Arianna Buturovic at (310) 452-3881.

About the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside smywca.org
Strengthened by Diversity, the YWCA empowers women and girls by creating opportunities for growth and leadership. For over 80 years, the YWCA Santa Monica / Westside has provided critical community service programs to women and children in more than 10 Westside communities, including a Housing and Education Program for young women who have been emancipated from foster care; ENCORE, the YWCA’s exercise and support program for women who survived breast cancer; The Girls’ Basketball program provides an organized opportunity for over 400 girls annually to play basketball and stay involved; and Girls In Action (G.I.A.) is a leadership program for girls attending John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica. These programs culminate our vision to be a premier organization for women and girls, a source of strength and a voice for women.
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