GALS works to promote the value of leadership and advocacy through regular skill-building workshops with high school girls in Philadelphia.  These workshops provide training in skills such as public speaking, social media, money management,  strategic planning, and global advocacy.  The program also encourages girls to make a difference in their own communities through the creation of local advocacy campaigns.  The GALS program fosters grassroots leadership by working with youth to raise awareness around issues that they find important.

At the event, Marjorie and GALS Director Karen Doyle spoke about their plans to expand the program to additional schools around Philadelphia.  Karen also stressed how valuable the program is in that it gives the girls access to women they would otherwise not have had the opportunity to meet and learn from.  Karen also affirmed an important part of the program’s mission, which is to reach girls at a young age, because “Girls who lead become women who lead.”  Guests of the event also watched a short film of interviews with GALS participants reflecting on their experience of the program. WCI thanks all of those who were able to attend this exciting evening!

If you were not able to attend the event but would like to support WCI, please visit the Take Action page at womenscampaigninternational.org

WCI thanks all of those who were able to attend this exciting evening!

Join Marjorie Margolies, president of Women’s Campaign International (WCI), at her home for an evening dedicated to learning about WCI’s program for adolescent girls in Philadelphia, GALS (Global Advocacy and Leadership Series).

When: Monday, September 12, 2011 from 5:30 to 7pm

Where: Marjorie’s home

To encourage civic participation at an early age, WCI facilitates Saturday workshops for high school girls interested in improving their communities. Throughout the program, participants build life-skills in communityleadership, advocacy, global awareness, financial literacy, public speaking and networking.

All guests are welcome, feel free to bring a friend.

Suggested donation $100

For location details and to RSVP, contact Marion at marion@womenscampaigninternational.org

2009 honorees

U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden

Author of the landmark Violence Against Women Act

To be introduced by his sister and WCI trainer, Valerie Biden Owens

John Legend

Six-time Grammy Award winner and founder of Show Me Campaign

Sheryl WuDunn

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and author of the new book Half the Sky

with a special musical performance by John Legend

Monday, November 2, 2009

The Metropolitan Club

One East 60th Street at 5th Avenue, New York, NY

Doors open at 6:00pm

6:30-7:30pm Cocktail Reception, The Great Marble Hall

8:00 pm Dinner, The West Lounge

Tickets may be purchased here.

Individual ticket price is $1,000 and tables of ten may be reserved for $10,000.

Please call Aileene Halligan at 267-879-4914 for more details.

Thursday, May 28th 6:00pm – 9:00pm

University of Pennsylvania, Hall of Flags

Houston Hall 3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104

Students from the University of Pennsylvania attend a WCI program in Loti, Malawi, May 2008

Metropolitan Club of New York
November 20, 2008

On November 20, 2008, Women’s Campaign International (WCI) hosted an impressive gathering of worldwide women leaders at the Metropolitan Club of New York.  The year-end event, entitled Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Honoring Inspirational Women around the Globe, sought to recognize the groundbreaking work of courageous women who have pioneered in their fields and overcome the boundaries that normally hinder women’s effective participation in politics, business and social change.

The evening’s festivities kicked off with a VIP cocktail hour in the Governor’s room, where distinguished WCI donors and special guests gathered to enjoy light fare and mingle to the Afro-Cuban rhythms of the revolutionary all-women drumming troupe Okan Iloro. After the VIP hour, all guests were invited to take their seats in the President’s Ballroom.  As appetizers were served, WCI President, Marjorie Margolies, took the stage to welcome all guests and explain what a great honor it was to top off WCI’s 10th anniversary in such notable company.  Ms. Margolies then passed the mic to the event emcee and first honoree, Katie Couric.  Throughout the night, Ms. Couric’s charisma kept the crowd entertained as she introduced an array of inspirational honorees, each one delivering an equally inspirational speech highlighting their past struggles and current triumphs as women pioneers in their field.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was the next honoree, and she was met with a standing ovation and energizing applause as she walked up to the podium.  Senator Clinton’s speech spoke to her unwavering conviction that educating women is the critical component worldwide to changing a village, a nation and eventually, the world.  She spoke of WCI’s critical role in achieving this end, and reminded the crowd that such groundbreaking work for women must also be done at home in the United States as well as in the world’s poorest countries.  The Senator’s riveting speech set the tone for the evening, and more honorees took to the podium to tell their amazing stories: Honorable Callista Chimombo, Malawi’s Minister of Culture who traveled halfway around the world to address the crowd; Muriel Siebert, the first woman to earn a seat on the New York Stock Exchange; Sara Miller-McCune, the founder and president of Sage Publications; and Fran Weissler, producer of the musical Chicago and many other Broadway hits.  Honorable Marjorie Ngaunje of Malawi, Helen Thomas, and Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine were also recognized and applauded although they could not be in attendance that evening.

All honorees were presented with a one-of-a-kind, beautifully colored and hand-painted ceramic sculpture made by HIV positives artists in South Africa.  Ardmore ceramics generously donated these unique pieces which aptly complemented the night’s theme of supporting dynamic, community-driven change abroad.  These pieces and many more were also available for purchase throughout the night at WCI’s World Market, where exotic necklaces from boutique vendors and crafts from Global Goods Partners were sold.  In addition to the honorees and international shopping, dinner guests were entertained by comedian Jane Condon and special recognition was given to other notable guests in the crowd such as Geraldine Ferraro, Gloria Steinem and Chelsea Clinton.

To wrap up the evening, closing remarks were read on behalf of WCI’s last honoree, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.  As the first woman elected head of state of an African nation – and one of few female heads of state throughout the world – President Sirleaf and her remarks held special meaning to a group so dedicated to the cause of women’s equality.  The President’s thoughts were read by the one of her key campaign managers, Edith Gongloe-Weh, and they spoke to the urgent necessity of supporting women’s civic participation, most notably in post-conflict countries such as her own.  “This award signals for me the hard work that lies ahead, but Liberian women have joined our counterparts worldwide in the fight to overcome decadent structures of inequality stacked against our progress. With your [WCI's] help and continued support to Liberia and the women of the world, our story is bound to change for the better. As women around the world continue to unite to address their shared plight, the glass ceiling can definitely not remain in place.”

Senator Clinton delivers the keynote speech at the event

Honored guests Katie Couric and Lewis Katz chat over dinner

Edith Gongloe-Weh, on behalf of her Excellency Madame President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Sara Smith, friend of WCI

Host Committee Members Nancy Manket, Cara Manket and Keely Bisch

November 20, 2008 – The Metropolitan Club

Honorees

• Katie Couric, Emcee and Honoree, Anchor and Managing Editor CBS Evening News
• President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia
• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Senator
• Sara Miller-McCune, Philanthropist and Founder of SAGE Publications
• Honorable Callista Chimombo, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Culture, Republic of Malawi
• Fran Weissler, Broadway Producer
• Helen Thomas, Journalist and first woman officer of the White House Press Corps
• Senator Olympia Snowe, United States Senator
• Muriel Siebert, First Woman Member of the New York Stock Exchange
• Honorable Marjorie Nguanje, Member of Parliament and Former Minister of Health, Republic of Malawi

with Special Guests
Geraldine Ferraro and Gloria Steinem

and Performance by
Jane Condon, Finalist on Last Comic Standing

Event Details

November 20, 2008
7 PM VIP Reception, Governor’s Room
8 PM Dinner, President’s Ballroom
The Metropolitan Club
5th Avenue and 60th Street, New York, New York

Tickets

Platinum Sponsor $10,000
10 dinner seats, 5 VIP reception tickets, special donor recognition

Gold Sponsor $5,000
5 dinner seats, 2 VIP reception tickets, special donor recognition

Silver Sponsor $1,500
1 dinner seat, 1 VIP reception ticket

Friend of WCI $500
1 dinner seat

Women’s Campaign International is a 501 (c) 3 organization. Your contribution to this event is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The value of dinner ($250) and the value of the VIP reception ($150) are not tax deductible.

Sponsors – Please respond by November 10 to guarantee appearance in the program.

Purchase tickets now online

For additional questions, please contact Jocelyn Braddock at 215-387-2602 or jocelyn {at} womenscampaigninternational.org

• Host Committee
• Congressional Host Committee
• Supporting Men

On October 23rd, 2008 Women’s Campaign International hosted its first Philadelphia-based networking and wine-tasting event at Kildare’s Irish Pub at Head House Square in Philadelphia. The event served as an opportunity to educate young professionals about international women’s issues and WCI’s critical work in alleviating the burdens that limit women’s active participation in politics and social change.  The night was casual and sophisticated fun, and featured Marilyn Russell and Dave Cruise of Ben FM’s morning show.  Young twenty and thirty somethings milled around the room sampling wines from Chaddsford and Barefoot wineries as well as beer donated by Yard’s and Philadelphia Brewing Company. The easy-going environment was punctuated by conversation on the current state of world affairs, the soon to be decided US presidential election, and of course, the work of Women’s Campaign International throughout the world.

Later in the evening, WCI President and Founder, Marjorie Margolies, took the opportunity to speak briefly about WCI as well as introduce its team of dedicated staff. Kerri Kennedy, Executive Director, was also on hand to discuss future WCI events, including the gala at the Metropolitan Club in New York on November 20th.  The audience was then treated to a performance by Tokay Tomah Kailie, Executive Director of Women Aid Society (WAS) a WCI partner organization in Liberia.  Ms. Tomah Kailie sang lovely yet haunting songs about the national trauma of Liberia’s civil war and the intense desire to return home. The evening wrapped up with the announcement of winners of the silent auction, which included baskets filled with unique items from the countries where WCI has worked and gifts from local restaurants and boutique shops.

The night was a great success with a notable attendance of the city’s young professionals.  Of the event Kenny Oh, Esq. said, “I thought the event was a great idea and a big success.  It was a good opportunity to meet with other professionals involved in international issues.  I also learned more about an organization that is making a difference in women’s lives, here and abroad.”

You can see more pictures from the event here: http://www.eventupdates.com/philadelphia/photos82.htm