34 The Courier sun • APRIL 7, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com 20 times • APRIL 7, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com March Madness Saluting Women Although most sports fans think of March as March Madness, the competition Victoria’s Secrets Dynamic $1500 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK Free Whitening included the inViSiBle WAy to Some excluSionS Apply StrAighten teeth third generation dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 between leading college basketball teams, others know it is women’s History Month and many groups use the occasion to pay tribute to extraordinary women. I was honored to be chosen as one of new York’s “Most remarkable women” alongside 24 other women at an event sponsored by City & State and, earlier in the month, I also attended a tribute to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney by assemblywoman rebecca seawright, who inaugurated the Carolyn Maloney Leadership Award presented to distinguished women from around the city. The event by City & State was held at Pier a, an event space and restaurant I had never been to that is perched on the New York harbor with a remarkable view of the water on one side and, on the other, the striking World Trade Center building, piercing the sky. The best part of “The Above & Beyond” award from City & State was the opportunity to meet some of the accomplished women doing extraordinary work from evelyn DeJesus, a vice president of the UFT, to Christine Quinn, my favorite public servant, who just took on the leadership role of CEO/ president of WIN, an agency providing numerous services to homeless women and their children. Other honorees included audrey weiner, the president/ CEO of the New Jewish Home; the very impressive Dean Michele anderson from the LIC CUNY School of Law; karen ignagni, president/CEO of Emblem Health; and NY1’s Cheryl wills, to name a few. What an honor to stand with them. Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright herself, an accomplished woman in the political arena and a great public servant, introduced me to the women she chose to recognize, giving them the Women of Distinction Awards – from Vice President at Verizon Leecia eve to attorney Michele Penzer, a managing partner at Latham & Watkins. These powerful women are building ladders of opportunities for other women. And on the 100th anniversary of the suffrage movement, we must all stand strongly shoulder to shoulder to protect what has been achieved. Ironically, I just received an email from senator kirsten gillibrand, who has taken on the cause of the U.S. Women’s National Team in soccer, whose members – despite being fourtime Olympic champions – still earn far less than members of the men’s team. Unwilling to back down, five team members have just filed suit in federal court, charging the governing body for soccer in the United States, the U.S. Soccer Federation, with wage discrimination. In the meantime, right in Brooklyn, 100 Bay Ridge women – leaders in the community – banded together to throw the “Mother of All Baby Showers,” whose goal was to provide 100 domestic violence victims, mothers and expectant mothers, with items they will need going forward. The idea, which originated with 68th Precinct Community Council President ilene sacco, was eagerly taken up by the others. It was held at the precinct, where piles upon piles of baby gifts were donated. In addition, over $600 was raised at the event after organizers learned from the not-for-profit “Healing Center” (which works with victims of domestic violence) that one mom it serves desperately needed a crib. I think having a focus and keeping the dialogue on those issues every month of the year is what is needed. I’ve been fortunate as a woman in business to have been able to start my newspaper business with limited resources, with a $250 investment. But I was also able to afford not to take a salary for a year. I grew my business slowly as my children grew, starting it when my youngest child Josh was 8, and didn’t do all I do now until Josh left for college. Although I had a partner when I started, within a few years I bought him out and had sole ownership. That gave me flexibility to balance business, family and friends. I think that’s why women deserve the tribute of recognition for their achievements! “We’ve come a long way, baby,” a commercial slogan reminded us many years ago, but there is still a long journey to protect women who are victims of domestic violence and to achieve equality and parity to men in pay and position. Coming a long way, there are “firsts” in our community such as grace Meng, the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress; Hillary Clinton, the first First Lady to run for office and the first woman to represent New York in the U.S. Senate; Janet reno, the first female U.S. attorney general; Carolyn Maloney, the first woman to represent New York’s 12th Congressional District; Pam Harris, the first African-American woman to represent the 46th A.D. in Brooklyn; and geraldine ferraro, the first woman to run for vice president of the United States, to name a few. These brave and powerful women each has had an impact that has raised us all. Now is the time to break the glass ceiling and elect a woman for president of our great country. Stay tuned! For more photos, visit QNS.com. Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com tweet me @vschneps Captain Joseph Hayward, Assemblymember Pam Harris and Ilene Sacco, president of the 68th Precinct Community Council. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney with Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright Patrick Lespinasse with honoree Leecia Eve, Vice President of Verizon and April Horton City and State Honoree and AARP NYS Director Beth Finkel Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright with me and her husband, CUNY Vice Chancellor Jay Hershenson for all the news 24 hours, 7 days a week go to www.timesnewsweekly.com
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