Connecticut Women's Conference Honors Woman of Distinction, Supports Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund & Unveils Believe Team Make-Over Winner

Conference unites women across Connecticut, provides opportunities for enrichment, self-discovery

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Apr 18, 2011, 11:00 ET

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Connecticut Women's Alliance (CWA), an organization dedicated to the advancement of women and girls through educational programming and events, recently hosted The Connecticut Women's Conference at the Farmington Marriot.

The day-long event featured a keynote luncheon by bestselling author, Joan Anderson, honored the CWA's first Woman of Distinction Award winner, Stamford resident Louise Moss, Executive Director and co-founder of Women's Mentoring Network, and unveiled the Mary Jones Believe Team Make-Over winner, West Hartford resident Jenifer Simson Hartt.

To commemorate the event, CWA has chosen the Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund, one of the oldest women's rights organizations in the Country, as their 2011 Charity of Choice.

"We are grateful to the Connecticut Women's Alliance for their generous support," said Alice Pritchard, Ph.D., executive director, Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund. "The funds will be used to further our mission of empowering women, girls and their families to achieve equal opportunities in their personnel and professional lives."

"We are thrilled to have united so many women from different walks of life in a celebration of womanhood and self-fulfillment," said Wendy Leahy, president, Connecticut Women's Alliance. "The conference gave attendees an opportunity for self-growth while recognizing the achievements of remarkable women."

Among those recognized at the conference were CWA's Woman of Distinction Award winner, Louise Moss of Stamford. Moss serves as Executive Director and co-founder of Women's Mentoring Network, a grassroots organization serving Lower Fairfield County by promoting sustainable economic security for disadvantaged women and their families.

Following the presentation of the CWA's Woman of Distinction Award, keynote Joan Anderson shared her journey through womanhood and encouraged attendees to embrace their own life journeys. "We are as unfinished as the shoreline along the sea. We are meant to transcend ourselves again and again. We should never plateau. We must embrace being unfinished," Anderson said. She then concluded her address by encouraging attendees to connect with one another. "We are trained as women to compete and keep everything to ourselves," she said. "The power is in sharing."

The conference also included speakers, panels, workshops, exhibitors and book signings to inspire women to courageously pursue their true purpose.

The Connecticut Women's Conference was sponsored by: Sun Life Financial; WDRC, The Talk of Connecticut; CG WEBhelp; Co-Communications, Public Relations & Marketing; TonSha Marketing & Printing; Hutchinson Financial Services, LLC, Ben & Jerry's, Bearingstar Insurance, Cynthia Lang Photography, Harvest Moon Ink, and, Accounting Software Services.

About the Connecticut Women's Alliance

The Connecticut Women's Alliance consists of energetic women from all walks of life, who want to help every woman take the next step toward health, happiness, business and wealth. The purpose of the organization is to support the advancement of women and girls through educational programming and events. The proceeds of these events are donated to nonprofit charitable organizations that share this goal. The company's Board of Directors include: Wendy Leahy, President; Tonya Healis, Vice President; Joanne S. Gustafson, Secretary; Annabel Pedemonti, Treasurer; and Board Members: Cile Decker; Sharon Fales Grodzicki, Carolyn Griswold, Marge Piccini, Dorothy Martin Neville, PhD, and L. Kay Wilson Esq. The members of the CWA have all previously served on the Executive Committee of the Greater Hartford Women's Conference. Their past success was the foundation to create the CWA to provide a broader scope to their mission. For more information: www.ctwomensalliance.com.