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| 35th Anniversary Photos - click here |
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New York, New York - where it all began 35 years ago! On October 26, 2009, over 320 members, friends and international affiliates gathered at the Edison Ballroom in New York to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Women's Forum Inc., the original Women's Forum launched by Elinor Guggenheimer in 1974 to bring together preeminent women of achievement and influence in diverse fields, and to provide them with a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences. From that grew Forums in other cities and countries and eventually the birth of the International Women's Forum. IWF President Allyson Maynard Gibson of the Bahamas as well as colleagues from Morocco, England, Ecuador, and Canada, traveled from around the world and the US to share their common heritage and to honor Elly Guggenheimer, the founder of the New York Women's Forum and the International Women's Forum. In 1974, Elly and the New York Women's Forum turned the noun "network" into a verb, and the new concept of "networking" for women came alive almost overnight. The Anniversary celebration exemplified its mission of women supporting women as the Forum raised more than $230,000 for its philanthropic arm, The Education Fund. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the six 2009 Women's Forum Fellows - the recipients of the Education Fund awards. These awards are given to women over 35 years of age who are returning to college to finish their undergraduate degrees after having overcome life's adversities. The stories of escape from war torn countries, from abuse, from hopelessness - the horrors these awardees had to endure - and their obvious spirit, will and perseverance in overcoming these obstacles were all on exhibit. They remain an inspiration to all. The Forum honored Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative in which they have committed $100 Million to provide business and management education to 10,000 women across the world. Lloyd Blankfein was on hand to present the program and it was clear that their program shares a common objective with the Forum's Education Fund - a belief that educating women can change the world. A special thanks to Loreen Arbus for her generosity, to Dede Bartlett and her entire 35th Anniversary Committee for their organization of this celebration, to Lucy Jarvis and Scott MacArthur for producing another superlative evening, to Grace Shafir-Reiss for the wonderful videos of Elly, to UCP for their beautiful centerpieces, to Mickie Siebert, Suzanne Dowling and Esther Margolis for The History of the Women's Forum and to Irene Cohen and her Education Fund and Awards Committees for their devotion and passion and for reminding us that we can always do better. |
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Education Fund Video Generously underwritten by Greenberg Traurig, LLP (Click here to view video) |
