Women Mean Business Luncheon 2005

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Renee Brown
Senior Vice President, WNBA

VOLUNTEER AWARD
Cutler Salon

CORPORATE AWARD
Todd Yannuzzi of Morgan Stanley

The Pierre Hotel
Click here to be directed to the Pierre Hotel's official site.

Proceeds from our WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS LUNCHEON directly support First Step, a twelve week job training program that helps women break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by providing computer and job skills training, personal support, mentoring and internships with major corporations. Click here to read more about First Step.

RECAP
Supporters of the Coalition’s First Step Job Training Program filled the ballroom at the Pierre Hotel on Wednesday, March 16, 2005, for the eleventh annual Women Mean Business Luncheon. The event raises funds for First Step and recognizes the corporations, individuals, and volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to helping the low-income and homeless women served by this innovative program.

The highlight of the luncheon was keynote speaker, Reneй Brown, Vice President of the WNBA. She spoke about her own personal triumphs and the impact of her visit with First Step students during their training. Ms. Brown testified to the incredible strength and perseverance of First Step participants and urged them all to “keep on, keeping on.”

Many of New York City’s top business leaders joined the festivities. Among them were Todd Yannuzzi of Morgan Stanley, this year’s Corporate Award winner, as well as representatives from Estee Lauder Companies, Inc, JP Morgan Chase, Eileen Fisher, Newsweek, InterAsian Resources, and many more corporations and foundations. Debbie Harwin and Ann Sullivan represented Volunteer Award winner NAPO-NY (National Association of Professional Organizers). Since 2002, NAPO has provided First Step participants with invaluable classes on time, money, and paper management skills. Erin Camo and Amiyah Farrell represented Cutler Salon which won a Volunteer Award for their generous donation of hair makeovers for First Step students.

Women Mean Business luncheon guests were deeply moved by a video featuring First Step graduate Laura McNeill. Laura told of coming to First Step as part of her rehabilitation after having been in prison for thirteen years. First Step’s classroom training, her internship at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, and the ongoing support of her mentor have radically changed Laura's self-esteem and led her to full-time employment with a well-known non-profit organization.

Those in attendance also had the opportunity to hear other stories of how First Step transforms women’s lives as many of the program's graduates joined our guests for lunch. The event was a true success with business leaders and donors learning first-hand how their generous gifts and volunteer efforts profoundly alter the lives of some of the most vulnerable women in New York City.

Click here (pdf) to view some pictures from this year's event!

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, DONATIONS OR GENERAL INFORMATION
Please call Shani Powell, Manager of Special Events at 212.776.2056, or email Shani Powell.