WHAT: Celebrating Leadership Awards Dinner
WHEN: Wednesday, March 16, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S.Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
TICKETS AND PARKING: Contact (213) 368-1616

LOS ANGELES – The League of Women Voters (LWV) Los Angeles will honor those whose professional and civic work are integral to the organization’s mission at the 2011 Celebrating Leadership Awards Dinner on Wednesday, March 16, at 6 p.m., at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Val Zavala, vice president of News and Public Affairs at KCET-TV and anchor of the award-winning “SoCal/Connected,” will serve as emcee.
The League is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Carrie Chapman Catt Leadership Awards, named for the American suffrage leader and founder of the LWV: Cedars-Sinai Health System, the Los Angeles Times, Elise Buik, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles; and Susan F. Rice, the 2011 Founders’ Award Recipient. Presenters include Zev Yaroslavsky, L.A. County Supervisor, 3rd District; Andrew Benton, president, Pepperdine University; Caroline Nahas, office managing director, Korn/Ferry International; and John E. Kobara, executive vice president and COO, California Community Foundation.

The LWVLA promotes care for children that is responsive to diverse needs and made available to all socio-economic groups. Through its Community Outreach Assistance for Children’s Health (COACH) program, Cedars-Sinai Health System leads the way in meeting the medical needs of children throughout the city in a comprehensive and accessible manner that embodies the LWVLA’s core values.

“We are thrilled to be honored by this vital organization,” says Arthur J. Ochoa, Esq, Cedars-Sinai’s senior vice president of community relations. “Cedars-Sinai and the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles embrace a common cause – to nurture Southern California’s underserved children. We deeply value the League’s tradition of dynamic civic engagement and are delighted to share in their celebration.”

As LWVLA encourages Angelenos to become informed participants in government, it values the leadership of the the Los Angeles Times in educating its readers and demanding civic accountability through extensive coverage of such vital issues as ballot measures, campaign finance, public pensions, and breakdowns in government responsibility.

“The Los Angeles Times is honored to be recognized by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles,” said Times editor, Russ Stanton. “We share a mission of ensuring that Southern Californians are informed on matters of community importance and greatly respect the League’s rich history as pioneers of social justice and civic engagement.”

As president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Elise Buik is an advocate of driving change in our community through strong organizational leadership. Her goals for the United Way target complex and seemingly intractable –issues that include education, poverty, homelessness, and housing. Under her direction, the United Way focuses on improving public schools and finding a solution for ending homelessness.

Since joining the LWVLA in 1964, Susan F. Rice has been a tireless member, serving as president of the Santa Monica League, president of the California League and board committee member of the national League. Her philanthropic leadership in Los Angeles extends to Pepperdine University, the UCLA Foundation, the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, United Way, and as a donor with her husband Don to many other organizations.

The LWVLA is a nonpartisan political organization committed to increasing informed and active citizen participation in government since its founding in 1919 by Dora F. Haynes. LWVLA is a voice for civic leadership and engagement in our diverse community, educating voters in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Recognizing that our greatest leaders may be our youngest, the League is at the forefront of the movement for improved governance and accountability for our public schools through civic involvement. LWVLA also works with public and private sector leaders to aid our homeless and low income population by focusing on affordable housing, social services and accessible health care.

Proceeds from the Celebrating Leadership Awards Dinner benefit the LWVLA Education Fund, a 501(c)(3)organization that raises funds to help the organization provide educational programs and services to the community. A silent auction will give guests the opportunity to bid on items including lunch with L.A. Councilmember Paul Krekorian; a tour of Los Angeles with L.A. Councilmember Tom LaBonge; a tote bag, jewelry and gift certificate from Trina Turk; and gift certificates for Koi Restaurant and Musso and Frank Grill. In addition, a week in a condo in Hawaii donated by David Mizenir will be the prize in a drawing; tickets are available online or by phone. Silent auction bidders need not be present to win items they have bid on, and will be notified the next day of their purchase.

Tickets for the 2011 Celebrating Leadership Awards Dinner range from $225 each to $1,000 for a pair of Civic Society tickets. Sponsorships are also available starting at $2,500 for Community Advocate admission for eight guests. To purchase tickets or for more information about the event, visit http://lwvlaeducationfund.wordpress.com/ or call (213) 368-1616.

For more information about LWVLA, visit lwvlosangeles.org or call the LWVLA office at (213) 368-1616.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011
6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Millennium Biltmore Hotel

The Carrie Chapman Catt Leadership Awards are presented to those who have demonstrated a dedication to the values and the goals upon which the League was established in 1920.

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