YWCA SANTA MONICA / WESTSIDE

2009 FOCUS AWARDS

Saturday, May 2, 2009

SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER

Cocktails & Silent Auction, 5:30 PM

Dinner & Program, 7:00 PM

The 2009 Focus Awards, which was held on May 2, 2009 at the Skirball Cultural Center, honored three women who have enriched our lives through nutrition and cuisine, arts and culture, and financial empowerment. Together, their contributions have connected the many communities that benefit from their hard work and inspiration. In today's exceptionally challenging financial climate, we must remember that it is the contributions of individuals together – like our honorees – that will keep us standing strong.

• Kim Michel, Founder of Michel Financial Group (click here to read Kim’s bio)

• Amelia Saltsman, Author of The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook (click here to read Amelia’s bio)

• Abby Sher, Founder of The Santa Monica Museum of Art (click here to read Abby’s bio)

We also recognize that the central focus of the YWCA's mission is to connect women and girls of different backgrounds and experiences who come to the YWCA for different reasons and find success in different ways. Whether she is a cancer survivor in need of rehabilitative exercise and support programs, an emancipated foster care youth in need of direction and a place to live, a middle school girl in need of guidance and a place to build her self esteem and leadership skills, an elementary school girl who finds joy and confidence in youth sports, or a single parent who needs help understanding her child's development; the YWCA connects these individuals through vital, enlightening and empowering programs and services.

Through the generous support of our friends and donors as well as the leadership of Judy Neveau and the Blue Ribbon Committee, we are delighted to announce that the Focus Awards Gala raised over $130,000 for YWCA programs and services, including nearly $30,000 for the Sally Young Empowerment Fund (click here to read about the Fund). Our special thanks also to Sarah Purcell for her incredible performance as our Mistress of Ceremonies.