News
Contact: Rebecca Finley
615-321-4939
rfinley@cfmt.org
January 2009
The Women’s Fund Announces Power of the Purse Speaker and Chairs
Anne Davis to be honorary chair of annual luncheon
NASHVILLE, TN – Broadcast journalist and author Jane Pauley will inspire women as she talks about her career and the power each of us have to make good things happen in our community at the 11th Annual Power of the Purse Luncheon.
The luncheon, benefiting The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, will be held on March 9, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Downtown Hotel in Nashville. Tickets are $200 per person or $2,000 for a table of 10. Reservations for the event can be made online at The Community Foundation’s Web site www.cfmt.org, www.thewomensfund.com or by calling (615) 321-4939.
“Jane Pauley has been one of the most respected figures in American broadcast journalism for more than 30 years,” said Beth Moore, co-chair of the Power of the Purse Luncheon. “Through her story telling she has been able to touch the lives of thousands of people, using her professional success as a platform to promote important efforts to better the quality of life for others.”
Pauley began her journalism career in 1972, at WISH TV in Indianapolis, her hometown, but within three years became the first woman to anchor a weekday evening newscast in Chicago at NBC’s WMAQ-TV. Only one year later, Pauley vaulted to the top of network news as co-host of NBC’s ‘TODAY’ - at the age of 25.
For the next 13 years she interviewed thousands of newsmakers from every walk of life and locations all over the world. Pauley also anchored the Weekend Edition of NBC News, appeared as a regular substitute for Tom Brokaw on ‘Nightly News,’ and for more than a decade, anchored ‘DATELINE NBC’ with co-host, Stone Phillips.
Pauley is a former member of the advisory board
of PENCIL, an organization which fosters civic
involvement in public education. She is also
a member of the advisory board of the International
Council of Freedom from Hunger, and chairman
of the advisory board of The Children’s
Health Fund. Pauley is recognized as a powerful
advocate in the field of mental health.
Pauley joins a group of distinguished women
who have inspired luncheon attendees. Past
speakers include journalist and author,
Anna Quindlen, Olympic athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee,
and women’s advocate Mavis Leno.
For 10 years, the Power of the Purse luncheon and tribute book have celebrated and honored women, raising more than $1 million for The Women’s Fund. Since the inception of the Fund, hundreds of Middle Tennessee nonprofits have received grants to help women and girls in need. This year, the luncheon is co-chaired by Beth Moore and Mary Gambill. Moore and Gambill are community leaders who have more than 20 years experience in volunteerism, having worked on dozens of events together. Anne Davis, Nashville’s first lady, is this year’s honorary chair.
“Anne Davis has dedicated so much time and energy to bettering our community,” said Mary Gambill, co-chair of the luncheon. “We are pleased to honor her at this year’s luncheon.”
The purse, a symbol of women’s capacity for philanthropy, has become an emblem central to this event. At the luncheon, a silent auction will feature unique purses donated by retailers, community members and celebrities. Luncheon attendees will also take home the 2009 A Celebration of Women pictorial tribute book, which is filled with tributes to women everywhere. Proceeds from the luncheon, auction and tribute book will help further support The Fund’s mission to help women and girls in need.
To learn more about The Women’s Fund and the Power of the Purse luncheon, please contact Liza Lentz at llentz@cfmt.org or (615) 321-4939.
About The Women’s Fund:
The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation
of Middle Tennessee provides grants to nonprofit
organizations serving the interests of women
and girls through education, health and human
services, victim’s support services,
domestic violence intervention, drug rehabilitation,
and job training. Past recipient organizations
include American Association of Refugee & Immigrant
Women, Domestic Violence Intervention Center,
and Renewal House, among others.
About The Community Foundation of
Middle Tennessee:
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
oversees more than 670 charitable funds.
In the past seventeen years, The Community
Foundation has distributed $390 million
to community programs and institutions. Currently,
The Community Foundation manages endowment,
unrestricted and memorial funds totaling
$431 million. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn
Avenue, #
400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more
information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
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