League of Women Voters to celebrate Women’s Equality Day
HICKORY
Congress designated Aug. 26 as “Women’s Equality Day” in 1971.
The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. The observance of Women’s Equality Day also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality.
On Aug. 26, members of the League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley will honor area women chosen for the LWVCV’s inaugural Outstanding Women of Catawba Valley award. The 16 recipients will be honored as part of the LWVCV’s celebration of Women’s Equality Day.
The award is intended to recognize and honor women from the Catawba Valley who have made extraordinary contributions to women’s issues, education, business, health, advocacy and philanthropy.
Recipients will be honored at a 5:30 p.m. reception at Drips’ Coffeehouse in downtown Hickory. The event will include the awards presentation, a reading of the Catawba County Commission’s resolution to Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day in Catawba County and presentations by mystery women from our past who have returned to honor the day.
A 7 p.m film screening at the Carolina Theatre of the award-winning HBO film “Iron Jawed Angels” will follow. The film focuses on the efforts of women’s suffrage leaders Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, played by Hilary Swank and Frances O’Connor.
Tuesday’s event is open to the public and is the kickoff event for the LWVCV’s fall campaign. Tickets for the event are $10 and will be available at the door.
Sponsors include Carolina Theatre, Drips’, FOCUS, Footcandle Film Society, McGuire’s Pub, Michael’s on 4th, The Sally Co., Tammy Leigh Pottery and the Women’s Resource Center.
Area businesses interested in sponsorship of the LWVCV’s Women’s Equality Day activities can make tax-deductible contributions to the LWVCV Citizen Education Fund, P.O. Box 5381, Hickory, .N.C 28603; or contact LWVCV President Fran Syptak at 828-328-4591.
