[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 182 (Friday, November 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP DAY 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2018

  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.
  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.
  I 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.
  This week, Ms. Diamond is 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.
  During this event, Ms. Diamond and her organization will be honoring 
the following individuals with the following awards:
  Anna Sui--fashion designer and founder, Anna Sui brand--Fashion 
Pioneer Award. Eileen Murray--Co-CEO, Bridgewater Associates--Financial 
Pioneer Award. Shannon Dellimore--Co-Founder, GLAMGLOW--Beauty Pioneer 
Award. Shanu Hinduja--Chair, Hinduja Bank in Switzerland; Chair, 
Hinduja Foundation US; and Co-Chair and Director of Hinduja Global 
Solutions Inc.--Philanthropy Pioneer Award.
  Princess Martha Louise of Norway--Chair, Princess Martha Louise's 
Fund--Political Pioneer Award.
  Kathleen King--Founder, Tate's Bake Shop--Culinary Pioneer Award.
  Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk--President and Co-Founder, Memnosyne 
Institute, and President and Co-Founder, The John Philp Thompson 
Foundation--Civic Pioneer Award.
  Shelley Zalis--Founder and CEO, Online Testing Exchange, and Founder 
and CEO, The Female Quotient--Technology 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.

                          ____________________