Wellspring House’s 11th Annual Women Honoring Women Luncheon May 4, 2009

Attorney General Martha Coakley to Address Education and Homelessness at
Wellspring House’s 11th Annual Women Honoring Women Luncheon
Local Artists Decorate Lighthouse Birdhouses for Auction
May 4
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Helping families light the way to education and affordable housing will be the theme of Wellspring House’s 11th Annual Women Honoring Women Luncheon where Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley will discuss solving the issue of education, poverty and family homelessness during an economic downturn.

The event, which 800 women are expected to attend, is both a fundraiser for Wellspring House and an opportunity for the organization to honor women who have been committed to helping families move out of poverty. Lighthouse birdhouses, decorated by local artists of note, will be auctioned before and during the luncheon.

During her eight years as Middlesex County District Attorney, Coakley served as an advocate on issues surrounding public safety, not only bringing justice to crime victims and their families, but also emphasizing the importance of working with community leaders, schools, and law enforcement in a variety of prevention efforts. Since taking office in January 2007 as the first female Attorney General of Massachusetts, she has focused on a variety of issues affecting the citizens of the Commonwealth, including cyber crime, identity theft, home foreclosures, access to affordable healthcare, and environmental protection.

Jill DiLiberti, Gloucester resident, graduate of Wellspring House’s Mediclerk program, and single mother, will share stories of the obstacles she faced and overcame on her way to obtaining an education and then employment.

Wellspring House will honor Susan Hershey, of Rockport, who worked at Wellspring House for nine years as a program coordinator for the Foundations Program, an education and training initiative for low income women. Mary Zwiercan, of South Hamilton, will also be honored for her 27 years of service at North Shore Medical Center. Zwiercan is a long-time supporter of Wellspring House’s Mediclerk Program and mentored many women through Wellspring. The Mediclerk Program provides women with the opportunity to skills necessary to thrive in the healthcare field. Students also learn on the job training through job-shadowing and internships at North Shore Medical Center facilities.

“These professionals are perfect examples of people who make a difference in the world of social justice and work hard every day to ensure women obtain an education necessary to succeed in their careers,” says Kay O’Rourke, Wellspring House executive director.

In the spirit of helping families light the way home, one-of-a-kind lighthouse birdhouses decorated by 80 local artists will serve as table centerpieces. The lighthouse birdhouses will be made auctioned off during the luncheon. Proceeds from the lighthouse birdhouses will benefit Wellspring House programs. Members of the public will have an opportunity to preview the lighthouse birdhouses and present advance bids from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 at Wellspring House.

For the past 28 years, Wellspring House, Inc., of Gloucester, has been helping families move out of poverty and achieve more secure and fulfilling lives. Along with advocacy work, Wellspring House provides education, emergency shelter, affordable housing, job training, family support, and mentoring programs.
Wellspring House’s 11th Annual Women Honoring Women Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, May 4 at the Sheraton Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, Mass. Seating is limited. Individual tickets are $50. Sponsorships for tables of ten range from $500 to $1,000. For more information, and for tickets, call (978) 281-3558, ext. 301.