Women on the Move event honors 20 local difference makers
UPPER DARBY >> Hundreds of women – and a few men – poured into Drexelbrook Catering and Special Events Center recently to honor and pay tribute to 20 women in the Delaware Valley who achieved remarkable success professionally and in the community.
This year’s Women on the Move event hosted by Main Line Today Magazine Serving Philadelphia’s Western Suburbs featured an onstage honest conversation between retired Philadelphia TV news anchor Lisa Thomas Laury and Emmy Award-winning NBC10 anchor Tracy Davidson. In an interview format, Davidson asked Thomas Laury about a variety of subjects, from the early years of her career and her friendship with Oprah Winfrey to her challenges with POEMS Syndrome and topics covered in Thomas-Laury’s new memoir, “On Camera and Off: When the News Is Good and When It’s Not.”
For an hour before the luncheon, attendees were able to network, meet the honorees and talk with vendors set up in a room off the main ballroom. After lunch, the adjoining room was opened up again for des-
sert, more networking and a chance to meet Thomas Laury and get books signed.
The event was sponsored by Main Line Health, AME Salon, Cirillo Cosmetic Dermatology Spa, Bra Spectrum, Himalayan Salt & Wellness Cave, Power Beads by Jen, Drexelbrook, Closets by Design, Fresh Designs, NBC10/T62 Telemundo and Van Cleve,
This year’s beneficiary of the event is Purses Full of Hope. Founded by Delaware County residents Sally Young, Kyra Miller, Brielle Miller and Kim Meehan, Purses of Hope (pursesfullofhope,com) collects new and gently used purses filled with women’s toiletries and a handwritten note of support and encouragement to donate to deliver to shelters throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey. To date, Purses Full of Hope have been distributed to over 1500 women victims of domestic abuse, poverty and other unfortunate circumstances.
This was the first year that Main Line Today sought the public’s input in choosing the honorees, using public balloting last May to seek nominees. The magazine was flooded with nominations, making it difficult to choose the final 20 “power women,” said Main Line Today senior editor Lisa Dukart, who called the Women on The Move event a day to “celebrate strength.”
“What is the measure of success? Is it a title, units sold, dollars earned, the number of lives changed for the better? For these 20 women, success is about pushing boundaries, making their voices heard and following their passions,” Dukart stated.
This year’s honorees include Ashlyn Bassiri of Spark Therapeutics, Betty Lou Bettner, author and psychologist, Agathe Boidin of Orchestra, Stephanie Cohen of Operation Warm, Jess Edelstein and Sarah Ribner, co-founders of PiperWai, Kelly Green of Help Hope Live, Ryan Hammond of Eagles Autism Challenge, Rev. Chimere Holmes of Thomas Jefferson University, Bindu Kolli Jayne of Swarthmore College, Erin Entrada Kelly of Rosemont College, Laura Kelly, founder of the Handiwork Studio, Libby Landry of the VRC Specialty Hospital, Rowena Castillo Lesher of Horizons, Lauren McComas of SALT Performing Arts, Eileen McDonnell of Penn Mutual, Maurine McGeehan of Lower Merion Conservatory, Jennifer Opdahl of PowerBeads by Jen, Lori Pastore of AME Salon and Spa, and Kathy Romano of BEN FM.
More information and details about the 20 power women honorees on the Main Line and Western Suburbs can be found in the October issue of Main Line Today or online at www. mainlinetoday.com.