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Washington Women in Public Relations Announces its Emerging Leaders Honorees

(WASHINGTON D.C,)— Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) has announced its honorees for the newly created 2010 Emerging Leaders Awards program. Created in celebration of WWPR’s 30th anniversary, the Emerging Leaders Awards honor rising stars, ages 21-35, in the public relations and communications industry. A distinguished panel of judges made the selection and they based their selection on the honorees’ demonstrated excellence and accomplishments in the communications field as well as their leadership qualities and high ethical standards. The honorees include: Carrie Fox, President and founder, C. Fox Communications Lauren Musiol, Senior Account Executive, GYMR Stefanie Pidgeon, Communication Planner, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Army; MPRI "Each of the honorees is not only a leader in her chosen field but also a strategic advisor,” aid Debbie Friez, president of Washington Women in Public Relations. “The three honorees are being rightfully honored for their professional achievements, community involvement and their impact on the industry, now and for many years to come.” The honorees will be recognized at an awards ceremony and cocktail reception on Tuesday, June 15 at Social Restaurant in Columbia Heights. Kirsten Suto Seckler, 2009 Washington PR Woman of the Year honoree and Vice President, Branding & Communications, Special Olympics, will be the emcee. Registration is open until Monday, June 14 at noon. Tickets may be purchased at the door. To register online, visit www.wwpr.org and click on “Register Now!” The Emerging Leaders Awards would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Platinum: PSAV Presentation Services and Social Restaurant Gold: Lake Litho Printing and Marketing Services and Natsuko Graphic Design Silver: Curcio Communications and Professional Solutions, LLC Become a fan of the WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards Facebook fan page.

Washington Women in Public Relations Call for Entries for Inaugural Emerging Leaders Awards

(WASHINGTON D.C,)— Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) announces a newly created Emerging Leaders Awards program to honor three outstanding young women each year in the Washington, D.C., metro area who have demonstrated excellence and achievement in public relations, communications and related fields. The awards program was established in honor of the organization’s 30th year anniversary. The Emerging Leaders Awards recognizes rising stars in the industry, showcasing the field’s most talented young women for their professional accomplishments. This new award is a special designation for women who have already made a significant impact on the industry and highlights their potential to contribute to the industry for many years to come. To be eligible, nominees must be ages 21-35 on June 1, 2010, and must work in a communications or marketing-related field or a communications-related job function. Nominees who are not already members of WWPR must apply for membership by the Emerging Leaders Awards application deadline. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Friday, April 30, 2010 For more information and detailed application instructions or sponsorship, visit www.wwpr.org/ela.htm. The recipients of the inaugural Emerging Leaders Awards will be honored at a cocktail reception and awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 15 at Social in Columbia Heights. Details about event registration are being posted at www.wwpr.org/ela.htm as soon as they become available. Become a fan of the WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards Facebook fan page.

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Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) is a vital source for Metro DC communications professionals and is committed to providing professional development events, networking opportunities, marketplace positioning and leadership in the community. WWPR was founded nearly 30 years ago and remains a leading professional development organization in the public relations arena. For more information visit www.wwpr.org. Twitter @WWPR

WASHINGTON WOMEN IN PUBLIC RELATIONS HONORS SARAH TEMPLE
WITH THE 2009 “WASHINGTON PR WOMAN OF THE YEAR” AWARD

WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 5— Sarah Temple, Senior Vice President of Social Marketing Practice, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, was named the 2009 “Washington PR Woman of the Year” by Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) at its awards ceremony.. Each year, WWPR presents an award to a senior level Washington area female PR practitioner as a means to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of PR women and expand awareness of contributions to the industry. This year’s luncheon marked the 20th anniversary of the PR Woman of the Year (WOY) event.

Temple was selected from a panel of judges who nominated three final honorees based on their exceptional leadership and integrity to their fields as well as their community involvement. The two other honorees were Jody Arlington, Managing Partner, PR Collaborative and Director, Georgetown Entertainment and Media Alliance and Kirsten Suto Seckler, Director of Global Brand Marketing and Awareness, Special Olympics.

"Each of the honorees deserves recognition for far exceeding standards within the public relations profession,” said Lauren Lawson, president of Washington Women in Public Relations. “Sarah Temple was selected as the 2009 PR Woman of the Year for setting the benchmark in terms of her strategic communications planning, partnership development and social responsibility programming.”

Temple’s 18-years of experience includes spearheading the award-winning National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) “The Heart Truth” campaign, raising awareness about heart disease in women, as its project director. Currently, she advises NHLBI on community and corporate partner outreach across all its social marketing campaigns. She also directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Screen for Life’s campaign including its partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation/Stand Up 2 Cancer.

The event also featured a keynote by Dana Bash, CNN’s senior congressional correspondent, responsible for covering the activities of both the U.S. House and Senate. A raffle was held to benefit WWPR’s pro bono client, the Children's Law Center, the leading civil legal services provider in the District and the only organization that provides comprehensive free legal representation specifically for children who have been abused and neglected, have special education or health care needs.

A list of previous recipients of this distinguished award is available at www.wwpr.org.

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Children’s Law Center Celebrates 2009 Helping Children Soar

Washington, DC –Children’s Law Center (CLC) will present the Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr. with the 2009 Distinguished Child Advocate Award at its ninth annual Helping Children Soar benefit held at the Kennedy Center’s Roof Terrace Restaurant. The benefit, chaired by CLC board member Nancy Sidamon-Eristoff, directly supports Children’s Law Center’s programs, which provide comprehensive legal services on behalf of more than 1,000 of DC’s low-income and at-risk children each year.

See the invitation

WHO: Prominent members of the legal, business and philanthropic communities join Children’s Law Center to celebrate the difference we can make in children’s lives by working together.

WHAT: The Distinguished Child Advocate Award honors an individual who has demonstrated a unique commitment to improving the lives of at-risk children in the District of Columbia. Children’s Law Center will recognize the Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr. as its 2009 Distinguished Child Advocate.

WHERE: The Kennedy Center’s Roof Terrace Restaurant

WHEN: Wednesday, September 30 from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

CONTACT: Rachel Henderson, Media liaison Nicole Arens, Media liaison
(570) 259-2205 (917) 587-8640
Henderson.rachela@gmail.com Nicole.arens@gmail.com

Children’s Law Center helps DC’s at-risk children by providing comprehensive legal services and advocating for change to ensure that our children have safe homes, a meaningful education and healthy minds and bodies.. For more information, visit www.childrenslawcenter.org.

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Washington, DC - Mayor Adrian Fenty presented the Children's Law Center with his 2009 Mayor's Community Service Award yesterday for its successful use of pro bono attorneys to help the District's at-risk children. The award was presented as part of National Volunteer Week.

The Children's Law Center provides comprehensive legal services every year to more than 1,000 of DC's low-income and at-risk children and their families. CLC's 70 person professional staff leverages its ability to serve these families by recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteer attorneys from over 70 area law firms. Through partnership with CLC, hundreds of volunteer attorneys have assisted more than 1,000 children who exit foster care to live with safe, stable families by representing their caregivers in adoption, guardianship and custody cases. Volunteer attorneys also represent children in complex custody cases. This past year alone, over 20,000 volunteer hours (valued at over $7 million) were donated.

"The Children's Law Center's ability to provide critical legal services to DC's low-income families is greatly enhanced by the hundreds of volunteer attorneys in our pro bono project," said Judith Sandalow, Executive Director of CLC. "More than 1,000 children have safe, stable homes because of the amazing commitment and tireless work of our pro bono partners," Sandalow continued.

CLC also congratulates Covington and Burling, LLP, winner of the 2009 Mayor's Corporate Volunteerism Award. CLC nominated Covington for this award based on the law firm's deep commitment to meeting the unmet legal needs of DC's at-risk children and families. Covington has made a unique commitment to CLC; every six months, for the past six years, the firm has sent a full-time lawyer and paralegal to work at CLC on a pro bono basis. "I am thrilled that Covington and Burling has won this award," said Sandalow. "They are a wonderful example of how a law firm can partner with a non-profit organization to make a huge difference in the DC community."

The Children’s Law Center Receives Mayor’s 2009 Community Service Award

Washington, DC – Mayor Adrian Fenty presented the Children’s Law Center with his 2009 Mayor’s Community Service Award yesterday for its successful use of pro bono attorneys to help the District’s at-risk children. The award was presented as part of National Volunteer Week.

The Children’s Law Center provides comprehensive legal services every year to more than 1,000 of DC’s low-income and at-risk children and their families. CLC’s 70 person professional staff leverages its ability to serve these families by recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteer attorneys from over 70 area law firms. Through partnership with CLC, hundreds of volunteer attorneys have assisted more than 1,000 children who exit foster care to live with safe, stable families by representing their caregivers in adoption, guardianship and custody cases. Volunteer attorneys also represent children in complex custody cases. This past year alone, over 20,000 volunteer hours (valued at over $7 million) were donated.

“The Children’s Law Center’s ability to provide critical legal services to DC’s low-income families is greatly enhanced by the hundreds of volunteer attorneys in our pro bono project,” said Judith Sandalow, Executive Director of CLC. “More than 1,000 children have safe, stable homes because of the amazing commitment and tireless work of our pro bono partners,” Sandalow continued.

CLC also congratulates Covington and Burling, LLP, winner of the 2009 Mayor’s Corporate Volunteerism Award. CLC nominated Covington for this award based on the law firm’s deep commitment to meeting the unmet legal needs of DC’s at-risk children and families. Covington has made a unique commitment to CLC; every six months, for the past six years, the firm has sent a full-time lawyer and paralegal to work at CLC on a pro bono basis. “I am thrilled that Covington and Burling has won this award,” said Sandalow. “They are a wonderful example of how a law firm can partner with a non-profit organization to make a huge difference in the DC community.”

While Parties Negotiate, Thousands of Children in DC Suffer

Washington, DC – Today the judge in the LaShawn A. v. Fenty class action lawsuit set further court hearings tentatively for March 23, 2009 to hear a motion to hold the District in contempt.

“I am deeply concerned about the crisis facing DC’s children. Children cannot wait two more months for action. Today, children are shuffled from foster home to foster home, they languish without necessary mental health services. People wishing to adopt face serious obstacles,” said Judith Sandalow, Executive Director of the Children’s Law Center. “While the court process continues, we must make sure we don’t lose sight of the thousands of children whose safety and well-being is at stake,” Sandalow continued.

The Children’s Law Center represents more than 500 LaShawn A. v. Fenty class members – children in the DC child welfare system – and is keenly aware of their needs. Children’s Law Center also represents many foster, kinship and birth parents involved with the child welfare system.

In any future plans or court orders, Children’s Law Center urges the parties to focus on ensuring the delivery of effective, high-quality services for children and families. All children entering foster care are entitled to timely medical, dental and mental health treatment and appropriate educational services. Sadly, too many of our children are not having these basic needs met.

“After 20 years of court oversight in LaShawn, it’s time to finally ensure DC’s children get the services they deserve,” said Sandalow.

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Children’s Law Center is the largest legal services provider in the District … helping more than 1,000 children each year and the only organization that provides free legal representation specifically to children. The Children’s Law Center envisions a future for the District of Columbia in which every child has a safe home, a meaningful education and a healthy mind and body. We work to achieve this vision by providing legal services to at-risk children and their families and using the knowledge we gain from representing our individual clients to advocate for changes in the law and its implementation. For more information, visit www.childrenslawcenter.org.

WWPR ANNOUNCES THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER AS NEW PRO BONO CLIENT

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) revealed that its new pro bono client for January 2009 through January 2011 will be The Children's Law Center. The announcement was made at WWPR's Annual Meeting and Board Induction luncheon today.

Founded in 1996, the Children's Law Center helps at-risk children in the District of Columbia find safe, permanent homes and the education, health and social services they need to flourish by providing a comprehensive range of legal services to children and their families.

The Children's Law Center is the largest civil legal services provider in the District and the only organization that provides comprehensive free legal representation specifically for children. Every year, the Children's Law Center provides direct representation to more than 1,000 children who have been abused and neglected, have special education or health care needs.

"WWPR's goal is to assist an organization that works specifically with women's issues and could benefit from professional communications services," says Lauren Lawson, President for WWPR. "By providing branding, marketing and public relations expertise, we are able to elevate the visibility of the organization in order to help Children's Law Center make an even bigger difference for DC's children."

Beginning last September, WWPR conducted an extensive application process, and reported a highly competitive pool of more than 30 applicants seeking pro bono communications counsel and services for the next two years. WWPR's Board of Directors and pro bono committee reviewed and scored the applications based on a number of criteria and ultimately narrowed the applicants to a few final interviews.

"The Children's Law Center is honored to be chosen as the Washington Women in Public Relations 2009-2011 pro bono client," says Judith Sandalow, Executive Director of CLC. "As lawyers and child advocates, we spend so much time working on behalf of the children we represent, we don't get the chance to let the community know about the challenges facing DC's children."

About the Children's Law Center
The Children's Law Center envisions a future for the District of Columbia in which every child has a safe home, a meaningful education and a healthy mind and body. The Children's Law Center works toward this vision by providing legal services to at-risk children and their families and using the knowledge we gain from representing our individual clients to advocate for changes in the law and its implementation. For more information visit www.childrenslawcenter.org.

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