The special
afternoon
featured an
engaging
conversation
with
Diana L.
Taylor,
Vice Chair
of the New
York Women’s
Foundation,
and ABC
World News’
Diane
Sawyer
concerning
the NYWF and
the current
needs of New
York City’s
women. With
an
introduction
by NYWF
President
and CEO, Ana
L. Oliveira,
Sawyer
expressed
her
excitement
to be
amongst
individuals
“who have
chosen to
believe that
the
intervention
in one life
can change
the world,”
as Taylor
confirmed,
detailing
the
Foundation’s
dedication
to helping
women
acquire the
tools to
better their
lives.
Taylor went
on to
explain how
she came to
the
Foundation,
as the guest
of a friend
at the NYWF
Annual
Celebrating
Women
Breakfast
nearly seven
years ago—
Taylor was
profoundly
moved by
“the room of
2,500 women
with tears
streaming
down their
faces” as
they learned
about, and
celebrated,
the work of
the
Foundation.
At the close
of the
conversation,
Sawyer asked
Taylor to
name her
personal
inspiration,
to which
Taylor
explained
Sawyer’s
impressive
media
career,
“rising to
the top in
man’s
world,” has
served as
both an
inspiration
to
herself and others.
When Taylor
asked the
news anchor
what was her
inspiration,
Diane Sawyer
quipped,
“Erma
Bombeck”.
Turning
serious
about the
need for
women’s
solidarity,
she then
went on to
tell of an
interesting
observation,
“When geese
fly, they
fly in a
strict
formation
which allows
them to
actually get
to their
destination
faster. When
they go off
on their own
it takes a
lot longer”.
The New York
Women’s
Foundation
is a
cross-cultural
alliance of
women
catalyzing
partnerships
and
leveraging
human and
financial
capital to
achieve
sustained
economic
security and
justice for
women and
girls— as
Taylor
explained,
an
organization
of “women in
New York
City helping
other
women.”
Following
the
dialogue,
host Jean
Shafiroff
expressed
her
gratitude
for the
Foundation
and its
incredible
efforts and
encouraged
guests to
remember to
thank their
mentors and
become a
mentor to a
young woman
as well,
working
together to
inspire
change.
When asked
by a guest
how she
became
involved
with NYWF,
Jean
Shafiroff
said, "A
number of
years ago a
woman by the
name of
Gayle Atkins
introduced
me to NYWF,
where I met
Ana Oliveira
and Diana
Taylor. I
also met
some of the
other women
who are
very, very
active...and
found out
more about
what they
do--I love
the mission,
and feel
that women
need to
support
other women
and help our
society
improve
itself, and
this charity
is doing all
of the
above."
The NYWF
Dinner –
Stepping Out
and Stepping
Up
– will recognize New Yorkers who serve as role models and demonstrate
courageous
leadership,
vision and
commitment
to women and
girls.
This year,
the
Foundation
is honoring
Agnes Gund
as well as
Grace
Hightower De
Niro and
Robert De
Niro
on December
1, 2010 at
New York
City’s
Gotham Hall.
The evening
will begin
with a
cocktail
reception,
followed by
dinner and
dancing.
The New York
Women’s
Foundation
funds
organizations
and programs
within the
five
boroughs of
New York
City that
have
developed
strategies
to move
low-income
women and
girls
towards
long-term
economic
security.
While the
Foundation
supports
direct
service
programs, it
has a strong
interest in
community
organizing
and advocacy
strategies
in order to
bring about
meaningful
and
sustainable
institutional
change. The
Foundation
seeks
programs
that aim to
change
policies and
systems,
build
community,
foster
collaborations,
enhance
leadership
skills and
knowledge,
and
encourage
program
participants
to become
more engaged
members of
their
communities.
The
Foundation
is
particularly
interested
in
supporting
organizations
and programs
that apply
gender,
racial,
economic and
social
justice
lenses to
their work
and express
an
understanding
and
willingness
to work
towards
eradicating
the root
causes of
poverty. ,
and that
explicitly
take into
account
strategies
to achieve
equity and
fairer
policies for
communities
marginalized
by gender,
race,
ethnicity,
sexual
orientation,
class,
religion,
and
immigration
or
citizenship
status.