For Immediate Release

Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County Names Artist and Mistress of Ceremonies for Women of Distinction Program

Waukesha, Wis. -- April 15, 2009 -- The Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County recently announced the recipients of the 2009 Women of Distinction and Young Woman of Tomorrow Awards which recognize women living or working in Waukesha County who have demonstrated qualities of outstanding leadership and excellence in their professional endeavors and/or community involvement.  This year’s Women of Distinction honorees are Kate Bloomberg of Brookfield, Mary Lodes of Pewaukee and Joan Shafer of Pewaukee. Sandy Wolff and Robin Busalacchi of Brookfield were named the Family of Women of Distinction, and Megan McNulty of Waukesha was named the Young Woman of Tomorrow.

The honorees will be recognized at the 25thWomen of Distinction Awards luncheon on May 5, 2009, at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha.  Renee Ramirez and Traci Huntemann-Piatt are Chair and Vice Chair of the Women of Distinction event.

Sylke Vonk, photographer, is the featured artist this year and will be creating block mounted environmental portraits for each of the award winners, reflecting her view that photography is a tool to frame life experiences.  The quality Vonk pursues in her photography is largely influenced by her interest in and exploration of the human condition. People, in particular children, are her preferred subjects, and her projects range from commissioned family photo essays to fine art documentary work in Europe and recently Asia.  Samples of her work will be on display at the event.  Vonk left her native Germany in 1991 to study International Relations in the United States.  Upon completing her Master’s Degree, she spent the ensuing years in Washington, D.C., New York City, and London, England, and currently lives in the greater Milwaukee area with her two children.

Joyce Garbaciak, WISN 12’s award-winning journalist who has been reporting and anchoring in Milwaukee for 20 years, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies for the Women of Distinction luncheon.  Garbaciak focuses on high-profile special projects for 12 News, its primetime news magazine “On Assignment,” and other local programming specials.  One of her special reports recently received a Chicago regional Emmy award for reporting, her third such honor. With three daughters, she has a special affinity for groups that empower and support women and girls, so she is honored to be serving as emcee for this event for the fifth consecutive year.

For more information on the Women of Distinction Luncheon or the Women and Girls Fund to which the proceeds are directed, or to register for the event, contact Lynne Foltz, Waukesha County Community Foundation, at 262-513-1861 or go on line at www.waukeshafoundation.org, Women of Distinction.

The Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County supports programs and organizations that help women and girls overcome obstacles and achieve success.  Grants focus on programs that offer education arts, cultural opportunities, and health and human services.  The Women and Girls Fund is a permanent fund of the Waukesha County Community Foundation.  For more information, visit www.waukeshafoundation.org.

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Contacts:

Name: Dave Schultz
Company: Waukesha County Community Foundation
Phone: 262-513-1861
Email: dschultz@waukeshafoundation.org