Off The Court, Philanthropy & Events

WNBA holds tenth annual Inspiring Women Luncheon

(Photo Credit: RealJock.com)

The WNBA held its tenth annual Inspiring Women Luncheon on Tuesday in New York City, and as always, it was quite the event.

Several women were honored by the WNBA for their contributions to the community as well as for being role models for women everywhere. One of those was Rosie Rios, the former United States Treasurer who was part of the effort to have Harriet Tubman’s face on the $20 bill.

I can’t think of any other organization that provides role models like these. The WNBA is the only pipeline opportunity to see a woman on the court.

–Rosie Rios (per AP)

She first assumed the office as the nation’s 43rd Treasurer in August of 2009 before stepping down recently this year. Prior to being named by President Obama as Treasurer, she worked in Virginia to shore up the Hispanic vote for him in 2008.

Rios also has a teenage daughter who plays basketball.

The WNBA also honored Karen A. Peterson, the Chief Executive Officer for the National Girls Collective Project with the Cisco Inspiring The Future Award.

The NGCP is an organization whose goal is to maximize access in both the public and private sectors for girls to become more involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Its website describes its primary goal as collaboration between smaller STEM programs targeted to girls to create a larger network of girl-centric programs, aimed at achieving gender equality for STEM.

Peterson is also part of the Board of Directors for True Child, an organization that researches the presence and effect and stereotypes based on gender and working to implement solutions to such problems. She is a graduate of the University of Washington.

Also recognized at the luncheon was Dawn Martesi, an instructional coach at Neil A. Armstrong Middle School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. She was presented with the Verizon Innovative Learning Award.

She had a huge role in the creation of a student-led technology team that allowed them to also take on leadership roles throughout the school’s student body.

These three women today were iconic. The work that they do lifts every woman, everywhere. A total inspiration to our community and beyond.

—WNBA president Lisa Borders



By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)

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