LA Sparks Celebrate "Inspiring Women"
August 18, 2009 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Los Angeles Sparks News Release
LOS ANGELES - STAPLES Center will host the Sparks' annual "Inspiring Women Night" co-presented by Farmers Insurance and Anthem Blue Cross on August 19th as the Sparks take on the Washington Mystics at 7:30pm. The night is a chance to honor four extraordinary leaders and celebrate the women who uplift and inspire us.
The game will feature a presentation of the first ever "Lisa Leslie Inspiring Women Awards." Leslie has inspired generations of athletes as a three-time WNBA MVP, two-time WNBA Champion, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the WNBA All-Decade Team. Her slam dunk, the first in WNBA history, was voted the "Greatest Moment" in the league's first decade.
The awards will be presented by Sparks co-owners Kathy Goodman and Carla Christofferson, who as successful businesswomen, are trailblazers in their own right. Goodman and Christofferson represent a limited number of women who own professional sports teams.
Four inspirational women that have made an indelible mark in their field and community from four different industries were selected to receive the awards. The first ever Lisa Leslie Inspiring Women Awards will be presented at halftime on the court to the following phenomenal women:
- Faye McClure, Vice President of Strategic Marketing for Farmers Insurance - Business Recipient - Nikki Caldwell, UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach - Sports Recipient - Karen Earl, Executive Director of the Jenesse Center - Non-Profit Recipient - Sharon Herzberger, President of Whittier College - Education Recipient
Lisa Leslie Inspiring Women Award Recipients:
Faye McClure joined Farmers in December 1994 as a director of special projects, where she was given the task of implementing the initiative, Farmers Action for Communities of Tomorrow (F.A.C.T.). She was subsequently promoted to Executive Director and appointed Vice President-F.A.C.T. in 1996. In 1998, she was promoted to Vice President, Farmers Group, Inc., and appointed President-F.A.C.T. in 2000.
She was honored by the March of Dimes for her commitment to the urban communities and is a founding member of March of Dimes Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures - A Salute to the African American Family, and serves as the chairperson for the annual event. McClure was named a member of the California Board of Directors for the March of Dimes, and was a keynote speaker for Pepperdine University's Graziado School of Business and Management's Magill Business Symposium where she is a member of the Board of Visitors.
Nikki Caldwell is beginning her second year as head coach at UCLA after taking the reigns in April 2008. Caldwell came to UCLA after serving on the staff of legendary women's basketball coach Pat Summitt as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee for the 2003-08 seasons. She helped the Lady Vols post a 195-24 record during that span, which included five trips to the Final Four and NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008. Last season as head coach of the Bruins, she guided UCLA to its best start in 28 years. In her previous 14 seasons as a collegiate player and assistant coach, Caldwell's teams compiled an amazing 404-76 record and appeared in the NCAA Tournament each season, while winning three national championships. Her teams have posted a 26-7 record in NCAA Tournament play. She has coached 20 players who have gone on to play in the WNBA and four who have represented the United States in the Olympic Games.
Karen Earl is the Executive Director of Jenesse Center, Inc. Jenesse is the oldest domestic violence intervention program in South Central Los Angeles. Jenesse is recognized as the first shelter founded by African American women who were themselves survivors of domestic violence. Earl began her association with Jenesse in 1986 as a volunteer, and has been in her current position since January 1997. Prior to Jenesse, Earl was District Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Marguerite Archie-Hudson. In that position, Earl was able to draft and monitor legislation that became crucial landmarks to the funding for domestic violence shelters in Los Angeles. This year, she was elected to the board of directors for the California Alliance Against Domestic Violence.
Sharon D. Herzberger became Whittier College's 14th president on July 1, 2005. Since then, she has led successful initiatives to identify, affirm, and articulate the values and aspirations of Whittier College; focus on student success both within and beyond the campus environs; improve and enhance the physical plant; invigorate Poet athletics and other student life programs; and deepen and broaden connections to the City of Whittier and the greater Los Angeles area. Herzberger's career in academe spans more than 30 years and is marked by a variety of successive leadership roles and professional achievement, affording her experience in virtually every aspect of campus life and administration. In addition to numerous research articles, Herzberger has co-authored two books: Affirmative Action: The Pros and Cons of Policy and Practice and Violence within the Family: Social Psychological Perspectives. She holds a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois.
• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 18, 2009
- Sylvia Fowles announced as 2009-12 National Team Member - Chicago Sky
- LA Sparks Celebrate "Inspiring Women" - Los Angeles Sparks
- Sacramento Monarchs weekly update - Sacramento Monarchs
- Detroit Shock Sign Two-Time All-Star Nikki Teasley - Detroit Shock
- Chicago Sky Forward Candice Dupree Recieves WNBA Cares Community Assist Award forr July - Chicago Sky
- Fever: Adopt a Pet Night, August 27th - Indiana Fever
- Coaching Legend Pat Summitt to Speak at Dream Game - Atlanta Dream
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
