DALLAS, May 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American fashion designer, business woman and philanthropist Tory Burch will keynote Dallas Women's Foundation's 29th annual luncheon on Thursday, October 9, at the Hilton Anatole. Burch, well known for her award-winning lifestyle brand, is a dedicated supporter of economic empowerment of women in the U.S. She will speak about her commitment to increasing economic security for American women, and her approach to the issue. The luncheon benefits Dallas Women's Foundation, the largest regional women's fund in the world and a trusted leader in advancing positive social and economic change for women and girls.
Since 2004, the Tory Burch brand has grown to become a global fashion business. In 2009, Burch launched the Tory Burch Foundation to support the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs and their families.
"Tory Burch not only has a powerful personal story about her journey to build a successful business, but she is also deeply engaged in the same work we are focused on at Dallas Women's Foundation – advancing women's economic security and empowerment in our own country," said Roslyn Dawson Thompson, president and CEO of Dallas Women's Foundation. "Tory's focus on women in the U.S. mirrors our focus on women in our community and state. Women wear the face of poverty here, as they do everywhere in the world. In fact, female headed households represent only 30 percent of all households in North Texas, but they represent 52 percent of all households living in poverty. We must change that, and by investing in women and girls, create a ripple effect that enables their families and communities to thrive."
Through loans, mentorship and entrepreneurial education, the Tory Burch Foundation invests in the success and sustainability of women-owned small businesses in the United States. Recently the Tory Burch Foundation launched Elizabeth Street Capital in partnership with Bank of America, which targets women entrepreneurs.
For almost three decades, Dallas Women's Foundation has advanced positive social and economic change for women and girls through research, grant making and advocacy. Dallas Women's Foundation's Economic Security Initiative has set a goal of increasing the economic security of 16,000 female headed households in North Texas by 2021. Since the initiative was launched early in 2013, the Foundation has committed $1.6 million in multi-year grants and related supporting programs being implemented by nonprofit partners to advance the economic security of women in this region.
Dallas Women's Foundation's 29th Annual Luncheon is chaired by Robin Bradshaw Bagwell and Jan Osborn with honorary chair Betty S. Regard. The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole, Chantilly Ballroom located at 2201 Stemmons Freeway in Dallas. Tables starting at $1,750 are available at www.DallasWomensFdn.org or by calling (214) 525-5315.
About Dallas Women's Foundation
Dallas Women's Foundation is the largest regional women's fund in the world. It is a trusted leader in advancing positive social and economic change for women and girls. The Foundation was built on the belief that when you invest in a woman, there is a ripple effect that benefits her family, her community and her world. Dallas Women's Foundation has researched, funded and demonstrated the ripple effect since 1985 in North Texas, granting more than $21 million since inception and over $2.5 million annually to help create opportunities and solve issues for women and girls. With the support of its donors, the Foundation unlocks resources to improve education and quality of life, give voice to issues affecting women and girls, and cultivate women leaders for the future. For more information, visit www.DallasWomensFdn.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Google+.