Women Presidents’ Organization President Receives Distinguished Service Award

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For Immediate Release Contact: Patty Briguglio (919) 233-6600

Women Presidents’ Organization President Receives Distinguished Service Award
Marsha Firestone Earns Service Recognition
At The 2006 Kaufman Center Honors

NEW YORK – Marsha Firestone, Ph.D., president of the Women Presidents’ Organization, will be honored with the Distinguished Service Award at the 2006 Kaufman Center Honors on Wednesday, May 31 at the Mandarin Oriental in the Time Warner Center in New York. Firestone’s tireless devotion to the economic development of women, her national leadership in women’s entrepreneurial initiatives and her strong support of diversity in the workplace make this a well-deserved tribute. The Honors benefits the Center’s world class arts education and performance programs provided through Merkin Concert Hall, the Lucy Moses School and the Special Music School.

Firestone will be joined as an honoree by acclaimed conductor, composer and pianist Sir Andre Previn and Martin Sullivan, a leader in the insurance industry as president and CEO of the American International Group (AIG).

“Music, theatre, and dance are key to the intellectual development of our children. Not one child or adult should be excluded from the magnificent benefits the arts can offer,” said Firestone.”Happily, the Kaufman Center exists to bring art into the lives of New York City children and adults, enhancing their capacity and their lifelong joy of artistic involvement.”

About Marsha Firestone, Ph.D.:
Dr. Marsha Firestone is the founder and president of the Women Presidents’ Organization for women whose businesses annually gross over two million dollars. Dr. Firestone was previously Vice President of Women Incorporated and of Training and Counseling at the American Woman’s Economic Development Corporate (AWED). Her career also includes positions as National Executive Director of the Women’s American ORT, a volunteer organization with a membership of over 150,000; a full-time faculty member of the American Management Association Competency-Based Management Development Program; and a faculty member at the City University of New York and Adelphi University. In March 200, Dr. Firestone was appointed to the National Women’s Business Council, which reports to the President and Congress on issues of importance to women in business and was part of the official delegation to the Overseas Economic Development Council in Istanbul, Turkey. Dr. Firestone was Executive Director of The Women’s Economic Summit whose work resulted in a master plan for accelerating the growth of women’s business and was presented to Congress and the public in March 1999. Dr. Firestone earned a Master’s degree in Communication from Teacher’s College of New York, as well as a Ph.D. in Communication from Columbia University.

About Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO):
The Women President’s Organization (WPO) connects top women entrepreneurs at the million and multi-million dollar level ($2 million in gross annual sales or $1 million for service-based business) – locally and internationally – with greater personal and professional success. In monthly meetings across the US and Canada, chapters composed of 20 accomplished women presidents – from diverse industries and backgrounds – invest time and energy in themselves and their businesses to drive their corporations to the next level. For more information, call 212-688-4114 or visit http://www.womenpresidentsorg.com.

About The Kaufman Center:
The Kaufman Center is a not-for-profit multi-arts institution serving more than 70,000 individuals each year: students, artists, audience members and children in outreach programs. The Honors benefits the Center’s world class arts education and performance programs provided through three outstanding divisions: Merkin Concert Hall, with reputedly the finest acoustics of any small hall in the City; the Lucy Moses School, one of the largest and most respected community schools of the arts in the United States; and the Special Music School, the only public school in the country to offer an intensive, pre-conservatory music curriculum with an academic education during the regular school day for a diverse group of musically gifted children.


Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
919-233-6600
patty@mmimarketing.com

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