NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN’S LOBBY TO HONOR THOSE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN in the GRANITE STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

CONTACT: Dr. Annie Farnsworth

603.731-3758/ anniefarnsworth@tds.net

NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN’S LOBBY TO HONOR THOSE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN in the GRANITE STATE

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Women's Lobby (NHWL) will honor legislators and citizens who make a difference for women and children in the Granite State at its 20th annual Spring Celebs Event to be held at the Centennial Inn, Concord on May 14th at 5:30pm.  The 2008 Honorees were announced today. 

To honor legislators the NHWL gives an annual Meritorious Service Award. This year's recipients are: Rep. Mary Jane Wallner the state House Majority Leader.  Rep. Wallner, a long time member of the NHWL, and director of the Merrimack Valley Childcare Centers, and Concord resident, has served for in the NH House since 1980; and Representative Carolyn Gargasz, a republican representative from Hollis who serves on the Child and Family Law Committee and has been a member of the legislature since 2000.  

Tricia Brooks will be receiving the Women in Leadership Award. Ms.Brooks is the founding director and chief executive officer of the New Hampshire Healthy Kids Corporation (NHHK), created by special legislative act in 1993 to provide affordable health coverage to uninsured children.  Tricia is actively engaged in a number of public initiatives to advance coverage and access to healthcare in NH, including being a founding member of the NH Voices for Health leadership team.

Robert Chambers will receive the Citizens Award.  Mr. Chambers is the president and founder of Bonnie CLAC (Car Loans and Counseling). Bonnie CLAC is an award-winning, consumer-focused, not-for-profit organization that helps people purchase new fuel-efficient vehicles at the best price and loan rate available. The vast majority of the clients served by his innovative program are women.

Sandra Hicks will receive the Volunteer Award.  Ms. Hicks is the founder of the NH Minority Health Coalition and is a longstanding advocate for persons of color and for all women in the state of NH.  Ms. Hicks’ many years of service in a multitude of capacities to the state will be honored at the event.

Deborah Osgood will receive the NHWL Spring Celebs Media Award.  She is also the recipient of the NH U.S. SBA Women in Business Champion award this year.  Ms. Osgood’s work includes the creation and hosting of over 57 small business resource communities. My WomeninBiz is a niche network serving women in business.  Much of her published works in these communities has also been published by IBM and The World Bank in a resource community targeted at serving women and minorities in business.

The New Hampshire Women’s Lobby (NHWL) is a grassroots, nonpartisan, statewide membership organization whose mission is to promote public policy to improve the economic and social well-being of New Hampshire women and their families.  We have served NH for 27 years.  Our Core Issues are:  Economic Autonomy, Family Law, Women’s Health, Civil Rights and Freedom from Discrimination.

For more information on this event, please contact the Lobby at 603.224.9105 or email us at info@nhwomenslobby.org.