WomenLeaders Forum of the Coachella Valley (WLF) is pleased to announce president Amy Blaisdell has been named 2013-14 Riverside County Woman of the Year in the 4th District – Coachella Valley, by the Riverside County Commission for Women.
Blaisdell, who also serves as communications director for the City of Palm Springs and on the Board of Directors of FIND Food Bank of the Coachella Valley, will receive the prestigious award on Tuesday, March 18 at 8:30 a.m. during the regularly scheduled Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting in downtown Riverside.
The Woman of the Year Award is given every year to an outstanding woman in each supervisorial district, who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to her community, by working to improve the status of women and their families in Riverside County. Last year’s honoree was Lori Sarner, president of Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped.
Over the past two years, Blaisdell has helped transform WLF into one of the most powerful women’s organizations in the Coachella Valley and is the founder of WLF’s hugely successful Women Who Rule! Awards Luncheon and Scholarship Fundraiser, which since its inception in 2013 has raised more than $250,000 in college scholarship funds for the best and brightest enrolled in WLF’s Young Women Leaders Mentoring Program, in partnership with Pathways to Success, a division of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership.
More than 350 community leaders attended this year’s luncheon, which honored local philanthropist Donna MacMillan, Kathy Greco, CEO of Desert Healthcare District, Joan Boiko, communications manager for Palm Springs Unified School District, and Susan Stein, long-time fashion editor of Palm Springs Life and producer of Fashion Week El Paseo. In addition, the forum honored long-time supporter James R. Houston with the inaugural WLF Superman Award.
Blaisdell also organized last year’s inaugural City of Palm Springs Rock Out to Knock Out Hunger Fundraiser in support of FIND Food Bank of the Coachella Valley, raising more than $20,000 to help feed the hungry. In addition, she is a member of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce’s Athena Awards Committee and a dedicated supporter of a variety of local nonprofits serving the Coachella Valley including the COD Foundation, Mizell Senior Center, Shelter from the Storm, Girlfriend Factor, Desert AIDS Project, and the Palm Springs Art Museum.
“Over the past two years, Amy Blaisdell’s leadership has led WLF to tremendous heights,” said founder Mary T. Roche, Indian Wells City Councilmember. “I can’t think of anyone who has worked harder to promote the WLF mission of empowering and developing women leaders of all ages and backgrounds in our community and I applaud the Riverside County Commission for Women for recognizing Amy’s outstanding achievement taking the Women Leaders Forum to the next level.”
“This is a huge honor and I want to thank the Riverside County Commission for Women for this fantastic recognition which will most certainly help further raise awareness about the mission of Women Leaders Forum,” said Blaisdell. “It has been my privilege and pleasure to lead WLF and I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished over the past few years when it comes to supporting women of all ages and backgrounds in our community. Most importantly, with the help of a wonderfully philanthropic community, WLF is assisting some extraordinarily talented Young Women Leaders receive a college education and follow their dreams.”
Founded in 2001, by former mayor and current Indian Wells City Councilmember Mary T. Roche, over the past 12 years, WLF has raised more than $350,000 for scholarships supporting members of the Young Women Leaders Mentoring Program.
To learn more about WLF and find information about becoming a mentor to a Young Woman Leader, visit www.wlfdesert.org.
