Clothing designers and retailers flourish at award shows because celebrities talk about who and what they are wearing. The Vital Voices Global Leadership Award Show was a little different. Instead of focusing on what everyone was wearing, the attention was on women who have exhibited leadership across the globe. Many clothing designers and retailers were amongst those focusing on honoring these women.
Diane von Furstenberg was an attendee at the Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center and even introduced speaker Hillary Clinton. In fact, for the last six years, Diane von Furstenberg has been a supporter of the Vital Voices organization. In 2008, she worked with Vital Voice to give 10 percent of her sales (both online and in stores) to raise money to encourage female leaders across the globe. This year, the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation are awarding two Vital Voice awardees $50,000 grants in the form of DVF Awards.
The DVF Awards help to provide awardees with the necessary funds and exposure to further their women’s causes. Other recipients of the DVF Award and organizations that DVF supports are Women for Women International, Love Heals, White Ribbon Alliance, and amfAR.
Wal-mart is another big supporter, giving donations to Vital Voices Latin Americans and Caribbean partners. Partnering with the State Department in the Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Americas program, ExxonMobil, CH2M Hill, and the Federal Express to ensure the funding of the Latin American and Caribbean Businesswomen’s Network. The LAC Businesswoman’s Network connects businesswomen to promote economic growth and ensure women’s involvement in the business environment with programs to train and mentor women.
– Angela Hooks