Edward R. Matthews, CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of New York City (UCP of NYC), and Loreen Arbus, Founder & Chair of Women Who Care, announced today that BLACK GIRLS ROCK!TM founder and CEO Beverly Bond, “Inside Edition” anchor Deborah Norville, Accenture chief leadership & human resources officer Ellyn Shook, Expect a Miracle author Jenny Long, and the healthcare system Northwell Health, will be honored at the 15th Annual Women Who Care Awards Luncheon, to be held Monday, May 9th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Beverly Bond is to receive the Women Who Care Award, Deborah Norville the Women Who Care Luella Bennack Philanthropy Award, Ellyn Shook the Women Who Care Women in Business Award, Jenny Long the Women Who Care Karen Hansen Caregiver Award, and Northwell Health the Women Who Care Corporate Commitment to Caring Award.
The luncheon benefits United Cerebral Palsy of New York City and celebrates the accomplishments of extraordinary women as professionals, philanthropists, and caregivers, who have broken glass ceilings and inspired others through their professional and charitable endeavors. The event has raised nearly $8 million during its fourteen years.
Susan Lucci, star of the hit series “Devious Maids,” Emmy award-winning actress of “All My Children,” and New York Times best-selling author, will return for the fourth consecutive year as host of the luncheon. For the first time, Liza Huber, Founder & CEO of Sage Spoonfuls and past star of the hit TV series “Passions,” will co-host the awards luncheon with her mother Ms. Lucci, for the event taking place May 9th, the day after Mother’s Day.
Beverly Bond is one of the world’s premier DJs, and a celebrated TV producer, social innovator and philanthropist. In 2006, Ms. Bond founded BLACK GIRLS ROCK! and the annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards to showcase empowering images of women of color. In 2010, Ms. Bond partnered with BET to produce the TV presentation of the awards, which has grown to an annual viewership of over 10 million. She has recently launched additional advocacy and empowerment based platforms including BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Africa; GIRLS ROCK TECH, a STEM initiative for women and girls; ROCK LIKE A GIRL, a music, film and arts education initiative for women and girls; and KING ME! a holistic youth development program for black boys. A 2013 and 2014 NAACP Image Award winner, Ms. Bond has been listed amongst EBONY Magazine’s Power 100 list for five consecutive years, in ESSENCE Magazine’s “40 Fierce and Fabulous Women Who are Changing the World,” among Variety’s Spring 2014 “Women of Power” and in Elle UK’s 2015 “Feminist Issue.”
Deborah Norville is a two-time Emmy winning journalist and a New York Times best-selling author. She is known to millions as the Anchor of “Inside Edition”, the nation’s top-rated syndicated news-magazine, a position she has held since 1995. Ms. Norville is the author of a number of best-selling books including Thank You Power: Making the SCIENCE of Gratitude Work for YOU, and The Power of Respect. A lifelong crafter and seamstress, her Deborah Norville Yarn Collection, a line of high-quality yarn for knit and crochet enthusiasts, has grown 678% in sales since its introduction five years ago. Ms. Norville is a Director of the Viacom Corporation and a member of the Women’s Forum of New York. She serves on the Children’s Council for the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and a Director for the Broadcasters Foundation of America.
Ellyn Shook is Accenture’s chief leadership & human resources officer, responsible for the people programs that empower 373,000-plus Accenture professionals to improve the way the world works and lives. Her team is focused on re-imagining leadership and talent practices in the digital age to help attract, develop, inspire and reward the very best people. She is a strong advocate for inclusion and diversity and is especially passionate about gender equality in the workplace. Ms. Shook serves on the board of trustees at Harvey Mudd College and the Women’s Leadership Board of the Women and Public Policy program at Harvard’s Kennedy School. She is a member of the HR50 division of World50 and the American Health Policy Institute Board of Governors. She is also active in Women in America, the Ellevate Women’s Network and the Women’s Forum of New York. A 2015 article in Forbes.com named Ms. Shook one of the top 10 CHROs.
Jenny Long is the author of Expect a Miracle, the best-selling inspirational story of how she raised two extraordinary boys against all odds – brothers whose love and determination affirmed her deeply held faith that everyone, no matter their challenges, can find their miracle. Ms. Long is the mother of Conner, 12, and Cayden Long, 10, who have competed in triathlons together as Team Long Brothers since 2011. Connor saw it as a way for him to connect with Cayden, who suffers from Spastic Cerebral Palsy, and they have competed together in more than 14 triathlons, including two IronKids Triathlons. In 2012, the brothers were awarded the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) Hero Among Us Award, as well as the Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids Award.
The healthcare company Northwell Health is to be recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality care to patients facing developmental, physical, and emotional challenges, how it has fought to create better, more inclusive lives for children and adults with disabilities, and its commitment to improving the overall health of the community.
The Women’s Who Care/Luella Bennack Award is presented each year at the Women Who Care Luncheon, in memory of Luella Bennack, the late wife of Frank Bennack, long-time Hearst Corporation CEO, long-term supporter of UCP of NYC and Women Who Cares’ lead sponsor. Luella believed that philanthropy is essential to increasing the well-being of humankind. In living out that philosophy, she focused many of her talents on supporting UCP of NYC while motivating others to follow her example. Like Luella, all of the extraordinary women who are honored with her namesake award inspire others through their care, concern, and deep commitment to charitable endeavors. Recent honorees of the Luella Bennack Award include Lynda Carter (2015), Judith Light (2014), Cyndi Lauper (2013), Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Gayle King, Ann Curry, Marlo Thomas and Lauren Bush Lauren.
Disability rights activist, philanthropist, producer and author Loreen Arbus, the first woman to head programming for a US television network, is Founder and Chair of Women Who Care. Among her many awards, Ms. Arbus was presented The Heart of Giving Award by President Bill Clinton in 2001 and the Ms. Foundation for Women Woman of Vision and Action Award by Gloria Steinem in 2011, as well as being twice nominated for an Emmy. She is the daughter of Leonard and Isabelle Goldenson, Co-Founders of United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). Mr. Goldenson was Founder and Chairman of ABC. This will mark Ms. Arbus’ final year as Chair of Women Who Care.
Frank A. Bennack Jr., Executive Vice Chairman of Hearst, will serve as Honorary Chair of this year’s Women Who Care. Tamsen Fadal, Emmy award-winning Anchor of PIX 11 News; Robin Givens, actress/director/author; Donna Hanover, journalist/radio personality and former First Lady of New York City; Ali Stroker of “Glee Project” and “Glee” fame; and Emmy award winner Paula Zahn, host of “On the Case with Paula Zahn,” will serve as Co-Chairs of the event.
To purchase tickets for the Women Who Care Awards Luncheon, please visit www.ucpnyc.org.
