Town&Country Magazine and Longines Celebrate Fourth Annual 'Longines Women Who Make a Difference' Awards

NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Town&Country magazine and Longines, the Swiss watch company, have partnered for a fourth year to celebrate extraordinary women, nominated by their peers, who positively impact children's lives.

The fourth annual "Longines Women Who Make a Difference" awards dinner will be held at Hearst Tower in New York City on September 27, hosted by Longines, tennis legend, philanthropist and Ambassador of Elegance Stefanie Graf and Emmy Award-winning FOX 5 News anchor Ernie Anastos. As part of the honor, the honorees' organizations will be featured in the magazine's February 2013 issue.

"We've identified three exemplary women who have made it their life's work to improve the lives of children," notes Town&Country SVP/Publisher and Chief Revenue Officer Valerie Salembier. "Our readers give back within their own communities and enjoy reading about others who share their values. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Longines and help build awareness for these commendable charities."

In addition to gifting each honoree a watch, Longines will also make a donation on behalf of each guest to the charity of their choice. Attendees can choose among FACE Africa, Girls with Sole or Turnaround for Children.

"Longines is proud to partner with Town&Country magazine to bring attention to the admirable actions of these women and the charities they've founded. We are honored to present awards to Saran Kaba Jones, Liz Ferro and Dr. Pam Cantor in appreciation for the effort they've put forth on behalf of children everywhere," said Jennifer Judkins, U.S. Brand President for Longines.

To be considered for the "Longines Women Who Make a Difference" award, participants were asked to submit either a 200-word essay or a short video detailing why their nominee is a "Woman Who Makes a Difference." The nominees were collected by Town&Country and the three honorees were chosen by a panel of judges from the magazine and Longines.  

The 2012 "Longines Women Who Make a Difference" award recipients are:

• Saran Kaba Jones, FOUNDER, FACE Africa: Nearly 800 million people (roughly 20 percent of the world's population) lack access to safe drinking water. Lack of access to clean water not only severely impacts people's health, it also suppresses economic growth and negatively impacts women and girls' education advancement.
  
  Founder Saran Kaba Jones launched FACE Africa in January 2009 to tackle the dire water and sanitation problem in her native Liberia, where three million people lack access to safe and clean drinking water. Through grants and partnerships with like-minded organizations, FACE Africa launched a series of water and sanitation projects, installing water purification systems capable of producing up to 20,000 liters of drinking water per day. www.faceafrica.org

• Liz Ferro, FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Girls with Sole: As a foster child herself, Liz Ferro was adopted at the age of two and personally experienced sexual abuse as a child. Liz credits athletics and fitness for giving her the self-esteem and inner strength needed to overcome difficult times and view herself and her body as purposeful and important.
  
  Girls with Sole helps young women who have experienced sexual and physical abuse, raising self esteem through a variety of fitness and wellness programs. Ferro focuses on healthy living, good nutrition and exercise to help hundreds of girls make healthier choices in all parts of their lives. www.girlswithsole.org

• Dr. Pam Cantor, FOUNDER AND CEO, Turnaround for Children: Dr. Pam Cantor founded Turnaround for Children to address the profound influence of adversity and trauma on children's ability to learn in high-poverty, low-performing schools. Turnaround for Children partners with more than 60 schools in New York City, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. to help these schools create positive learning environments that foster intellectual, social and emotional growth in every student.
  
  Reports show that partner schools became calmer and more productive environments with fewer behavior problems and higher ratings. Schools saw a 51 percent decrease in police-reported incidences, a 77 percent decline in teacher turnover and over a three to four year intervention period, students' math proficiency scores increased 33 percent at the elementary level. www.turnaroundusa.org

About Longines

Longines has been based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, since 1832. It is celebrating 180 years of non-stop craftsmanship in 2012 and its watch making expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations. Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world's leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries. www.Longines.com  

About Town&Country

Town&Country (www.townandcountrymag.com) has chronicled American life since 1846, always putting an emphasis on people of style and accomplishment who give something back to the world, whether in service, philanthropy or creative endeavor. It is edited with a feeling for storytelling, combining the highest level of reporting with the very best photography. Town&Country is also an acute observer of the broader social landscape, documenting notable weddings and parties, chronicling the pastimes and passions of leading figures and families everywhere, and casting an anthropological eye on the lives of the rich and powerful in a way that exposes surprising truths about us all. The magazine is a trusted source of privileged information, taste, elegant living, and unpretentious fun. It is an irreplaceable guide to the very best that the world has to offer. Town&Country Weddings, established in 2003, is published twice a year. In addition to these print properties, Town&Country launched its first mobile app, the Town&Country Luxury City Guide, in 2010. Follow Town&Country on Twitter at @TandCMag.

SOURCE Longines