YWCA of the City of New York to hold 9th Annual Summer Soiree

Honoring Pamela Fiori, Shamika Lee, Laura Maniec and Rosemonde Pierre-Louis. End Quote

New York, NY (1888PressRelease) June 14, 2013 - On Thursday, June 20, 2013, the YWCA of the City of New York will honor Pamela Fiori, Shamika Lee, Laura Maniec and Rosemonde Pierre-Louis at it Summer Soiree to celebrate their professional accomplishments and contributions to their respective sectors.

The Summer Soiree is one of the YW's signature annual events. This year's event will be held at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street, NYC) from 6pm - 10pm. The event was designed, in part, to promote engagement between female senior executives and young women new to the workforce to help them build their support networks to help with career advancement, as well as introducing the next generation of young women to philanthropy.

"For the past nine years, we have honored an impressive array of women in New York City who embody the spirit of the YW. This year is no exception," stated Dr. Danielle Moss Lee, CEO of the YWCA of the City of New York. "It is the YWCA's mission to, among many other goals, provide a forum for women to help women. Our Soiree is the perfect vehicle for young women to come together to meet women from other organizations and sectors and expand their networks."

Pamela Fiori is an editor, a writer and an authority on luxury travel and lifestyle. From 1993-2010, she was editor-in-chief of Town & Country, the oldest continuously published general-interest magazine in America (established in 1846). Under her leadership, Town & Country expanded its coverage of fashion and style, beauty and health, wealth management, home design, the arts and philanthropy as well as documenting the changing face of affluence in America.

Ms. Fiori has published five books. The two most recent books are "A Table at Le Cirque" (Rizzoli) and "In the Spirit of Palm Beach" (Assouline).

Pamela Fiori has received many honors including the Chevalier de l'Ordre de Merite from the French Government; the Matrix Award for journalism; and the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award from UNICEF.

Shamika Lee is director of East Coast Media Sales for BET Networks and a volunteer at Graham Windham, the foster care agency where she was once housed. She knows firsthand that children entering the foster care system face many challenges, including dealing with the abuse, neglect, and/or poverty they may have previously experienced.

Prior to her current role, Shamika was the senior manager of digital partnerships for American Express, where she managed a $5B portfolio. Shamika holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Laura Maniec is an entrepreneur and master sommelier. She launched Corkbuzz Wine Studio in 2011 -- a destination for expert and novice wine drinkers alike -- and earned her recognition as both a sommelier and entrepreneur. Since opening Corkbuzz, The Wall Street Journal called Maniec the "It Girl" of the New York wine scene, Crain's New York Business honored her as one of their "40 Under 40" and Food & Wine magazine named her one of 2013's "Sommeliers of the Year."

Maniec first discovered her true enthusiasm for wine through an 18-week sommelier certification class at Windows on the World, and just as she was legally allowed to drink, she became a sommelier at Blue Fin, a 400-seat restaurant in New York City. Progressing quickly, she was made a partner as well as wine and spirits director for the entire B.R. Guest Restaurant Group of 20 restaurants across the country. At only 25 years old, she was managing the wine lists as well as educating the entire front-of-house team on wine.

Rosemonde Pierre-Louis is the first Haitian-American to serve as Deputy Borough President in the history of New York City. She was appointed Manhattan Deputy Borough President in December 2005 and is responsible for overseeing several of Borough President Stringer's key initiatives related to transportation, infrastructure, domestic violence, food justice and security, sustainability, the environment, criminal justice and the unprecedented reform of Manhattan's 12 Community Boards.

Prior to this time, Ms. Pierre-Louis spent 20 years as a public interest and legal services attorney representing low-income, immigrant and working poor litigants as well as survivors of domestic violence throughout the New York State court system. She also served for six years as an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law. Ms. Pierre-Louis has been widely recognized both locally and nationally as an activist, educator, and attorney for women's and immigrant's rights, underserved communities and survivors of domestic violence.

Tickets to the event are $225 per person and can be purchased online at http://www.ywcanyc.org/soiree/tickets/ or by calling 212.735.9702. For more information about the Summer Soiree or the YWCA please visit www.ywcanyc.org.
YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice,
freedom and dignity for all.

###

space

Other Related Press Releases