Soroptimists honoring local women

DOWNEY -- Soroptimist International of Downey will host its annual Women of Distinction award breakfast March 26 at 7:30 a.m. at the Rio Hondo Event Center.The honorees are Mayor Pro Tem Anne Bayer, director of the LivingHelp Center; Dr. Wendy Doty, superintendent of the Downey Unified School District; Katie Hare, businesswoman and community volunteer; and Mary Zoe Phillips, philanthropist involved with the Medical Books for China program. Being honored with the Violet Richardson Award for student volunteer of the year is Carli Ciatti. A new award this year, Making a Difference for Women, will be awarded to Nina Smart, founder of Servicing Wild Flowers International, an organization formed to stop the practice of involuntary female circumcision in the West African country of Sierra Leone. For information and reservations, call (562) 861-9874. ********** Published: March 6, 2009 - Volume 7 - Issue 46