[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 188 (Thursday, November 16, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP DAY
______
HON. GRACE MENG
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in honor of Women's
Entrepreneurship Day which is celebrated around the world each year on
November 19th. In honor of this day, I am introducing a resolution to
recognize November 19, 2017 as ``A Day in Honor of Women
Entrepreneurs''.
Women are majority owners of 9.9 million American businesses which
generate $1.4 trillion in annual sales and employ more than 8.4 million
workers. Ninety-nine percent of women-owned businesses are small
businesses, and 47 percent of all American minority-owned businesses
are also women-owned. I applaud these women entrepreneurs and their
economically-vital businesses.
Today, I also applaud Wendy Diamond who has personally spearheaded
the Women's Entrepreneurship Day movement. Since her campaign launched
in 2013, her Women's Entrepreneurship Day organization has funded 500
Syrian refugee girls in Jordan so they could attend high school,
launched an initiative in Oman to empower women and girls to vote
against arranged marriage, and partnered with a Uruguayan university to
offer scholarships to young women. Women's Entrepreneurship Day is now
celebrated in 144 countries and 65 universities and colleges
internationally, with numerous global ambassadors. The Women's
Entrepreneurship Day mission is to empower the four billion women
worldwide to be catalysts of change, and uplift the over 250 million
girls living in poverty around the world.
Tomorrow, Wendy will be hosting a Women's Entrepreneurship Day event
in New York City at the United Nations in order to empower, celebrate,
and support women and girls globally to alleviate poverty. Joining her
for this amazing event will be: Mikaila Ulmer--12-year-old founder of
Me & The Bees Lemonade and successful Shark Tank contestant on ABC;
Jesse Draper--founding partner of Halogen Ventures; Dia Simms--CEO of
Combs Enterprises and Board Member of the Harlem Boys and Girls Club;
and Baroness Sandip Verma--European Union External Affairs Subcommittee
Chair and Member of the House of Lords.
In addition to bringing these incredible women together, Wendy and
her organization will be honoring the following individuals with the
following awards:
Dottie Herman--Founder, President, and CEO of Douglas Elliman--
Business Pioneer Award.
Lucy Jarvis--First woman television producer, Peabody Award winner--
Media Pioneer Award.
Suzanne Lerner--President and Co-Founder of Michael Stars, Board
Member of Women Thrive Alliance--Fashion Pioneer Award.
Sonia Gardner--President, Managing Partner, and Co-Founder of Avenue
Capital Group and Global Chair of the Board of 100 Women in Finance--
Financial Pioneer Award.
Bobbi Brown--CEO of Beauty Evolution and former CEO and Chief
Creative Officer of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics--Beauty Pioneer Award.
Muna Rihana Al-Nasser--Chairwoman of the UN Women for Peace
Association--Philanthropy Pioneer Award.
Judith Ripka--Luxury jewelry designer and founder of Judith Ripka--
Accessories Pioneer Award.
Angie Bastian--Founder and Board Member of Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP--
Culinary Pioneer Award.
Sara Bareilles--Singer, songwriter, six-time Grammy nominee, Broadway
musical writer and composer--Music Pioneer Award.
Andrea Kerzner--Founder and CEO of Lalela Project. Co-Creator of
themoreweshare.com, and Director of the Board of Kerzner International
Holdings--Artist Pioneer Award.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the entire House to recognize these remarkable
role models, and to celebrate Women's Entrepreneurship Day this year
and every year moving forward.
____________________