Diane von Furstenberg Announces Recipients of The 3rd Annual DVF Awards; Oprah Winfrey to Receive Lifetime Leadership Honor

NEW YORK, March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Diane von Furstenberg is pleased to announce the recipients of The Third Annual DVF Awards, honoring five women who have demonstrated leadership, strength and courage in their respective fields. The awards will be presented in a ceremony on the evening of Friday, March 9th during Newsweek & The Daily Beast's Women in the World Summit held March 8-10 at Lincoln Center.

The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation will present the Inspiration Award to Jaycee Dugard in recognition of her advocacy for families that have suffered a familial or non-familial abduction or other trauma.  

The recipient of the People's Voice Award, as determined by the public through popular vote on DVFAwards.com, will be Layli Miller-Muro for her work on behalf of Tahirih Justice Center, a nonprofit organization that protects immigrant women and girls through legal services, advocacy, and public education programs.

Ms. Dugard and Ms. Miller-Muro will join two honorees from the Vital Voices Network, Panmela Castro and Chouchou Namegabe. Ms. Castro is a Brazilian based multi-media artist and founder of Rede Nami, a network of female graffiti artists that works to empower women through public art. Ms. Namegabe is a journalist in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and founder of the South Kivu's Association of Women Journalists (Association des Femmes des Medias du Sud Kivu), which is working to bring the plight of Congolese women to an international stage.

"It is with great pride that we honor these remarkable women with an award of recognition and support," says Diane von Furstenberg. "Each winner has shown unparalleled courage and leadership, inspiring women all over the world."

Winners of The DVF Awards will each receive $50,000 in support of their organization and continued efforts in public service.

The DVF Awards will also honor Oprah Winfrey with the Lifetime Leadership Award. This special award recognizes an individual who has dedicated her entire life and body of work to instilling in other women the courage to fight, the power to survive and the leadership to inspire.

Created in partnership with The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, The DVF Awards aim to recognize and honor extraordinary women leaders who are making a difference on both local and global scales.

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, one of the premier names in American fashion, was founded in 1972 by the designer. Renowned for its iconic wrap dress and signature prints, DVF has grown into the global luxury lifestyle brand it is today. Its distinctive collections are sold in over 70 countries and in 45 namesake retail boutiques worldwide. A firm believer in the infinite power of women, Diane von Furstenberg sits on the board of Vital Voices and has organized initiatives worldwide to support their activities, including the Artisan Handbag Design Competition, the Wonder Woman Comic, and the Proud to be Woman campaign. In addition to DVF's commitment to women's empowerment, Diane is a supporter of the Friends of the High Line and played an integral role in the redevelopment of the elevated rail tracks into a public park. As President of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), Diane is an advocate for American fashion and a mentor to its growing community of designers.

VITAL VOICES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP is a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, trains, and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe, enabling them through their networks to create a better world for us all. Vital Voices provides these women with the capacity, connections, and credibility they need to unlock their potential. Vital Voices international staff and team of over 1,000 partners, pro bono experts and leaders have trained and mentored more than 10,000 emerging women leaders from over 150 countries since 1997.

SOURCE Diane von Furstenberg