Soroptimist International of Long Beach will host its 31st annual “Women Who Make a Difference” awards and luncheon on Saturday, April 14 at 11am at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow St.
The program honors women in the community who use their influence to improve the lives of women and who have distinguished themselves in their profession and community. This year’s honorees include winners in five Women of Distinction categories:
• Judy Ross, executive director of Long Beach Non-Profit Partnership, is being honored in the category of Economic & Social Development
• Daphne Ching-Jackson, executive director of Constellation Community Middle School, is being honored in the category of Education
• Helene Calvet, MD, former health officer at the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services and current deputy health officer in the Orange County Health Care Agency, is being honored in the category of Health & Human Service
• Giovanna Martinez, Youth Services coordinator at WomenShelter of Long Beach, is being honored in the Human Rights/Status of Women category
• Mary Barton, Ph.D., principal at the Barton Group, is being honored in the category of International Goodwill & Understanding
• Pathways to Independence, an organization providing education, health care, therapy and mentoring for young women in need, is receiving the honor for Businesses and Organizations Advancing the Status of Women
• This year’s Ruby Award for Women helping Women is going to Tulynn Smylie, executive director of the WomenShelter of Long Beach, which provides emergency shelter and other crisis services for victims of domestic violence and their children
For more information on the event, call (562) 596-6915 or visit the Soroptimist website at si-longbeach.org .
Source: Soroptimist International
