'Inspiring Women' announced by WIPL
Sponsored by Women in Philanthropy and Leadership (WIPL) for Coastal Carolina University, both the conference and the celebration are designed to educate, inspire and challenge women to speak up, take action and use their voices to lead change in their own lives, their communities and beyond. The Inspiring Women Awards were created as an important and lasting way to recognize the achievements of South Carolina women; since the program's inception, 30 women have been recognized.
The following women will be honored at the 2015 Celebration of Inspiring Women:
Gloria Gaynor recorded the Grammy-winning "I Will Survive" in 1978 as her tale of personal strength. The song would become a banner for social survival that is still relevant after three decades. Gaynor has performed in more than 80 countries, has appeared on Broadway and on national TV programs, and has earned numerous accolades for her distinguished career. In 2013 she released the book "We Will Survive," a compilation of true inspirational stories from fans about how the song "I Will Survive" inspired and impacted their lives in a positive manner. Her recent autobiography, "I Will Survive," offers revealing insight into her exciting yet somewhat turbulent life. She is a member of the United Cerebral Palsy Hudson County Board of Directors, financially supports Save the Children, sponsors three children through the Christian Children's Fund and is a chair holder for the New Jersey Crime Victims' Law Center. Through the years, Gaynor has been a frequent and extended-stay visitor to the Grand Strand area.
Emmy award-winner Leeza Gibbons is one of the most well-known pop culture icons in entertainment and news media. She is the former host of Entertainment Tonight and the daytime talk show, Leeza. She also hosted the syndicated TV news magazine show America Now with Bill Rancic, and the weekly TV news show My Generation on PBS, for which she won the 2013 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host. Gibbons is a leading voice for issues facing family caregivers and for healthcare issues and wellness. She has also launched her own scrapbook, jewelry and cosmetic lines. Her best-selling 2013 book, "Take Two," is a personal growth guide designed to help people recreate themselves and hit the reset button on their lives. When her mother and grandmother were struggling with Alzheimer's disease, she created the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation; the foundation's signature program, Leeza's Place, now known as Leeza's Care Connection, offers free services for family caregivers. A facility is being established in Columbia, S.C., in partnership with the School of Journalism and Communications at University of South Carolina, from which she earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism in 1978.
Mary A. Jackson learned to make sweetgrass baskets at the age of four from her mother and grandmother. Since the early 1970s, she has worked toward preserving sweetgrass, as the plant has become increasingly threatened by land development. Jackson's work has taken her across the United States lecturing at universities, museums and various organizations. Her sweetgrass baskets are in the collections of Prince Charles of Wales, Princess Caroline of Monaco, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, The White House Collection of American Crafts, and the permanent collection of the United States Art in Embassies Abroad. She has appeared in over 50 publications including the Washington Post and National Geographic and was featured in a PBS documentary, "Craft in America," which received a Peabody Award and two Emmy nominations.
Barbara Livingston has been extensively involved with military families and organizations that support troops and their families. She has had instrumental roles with the following organizations, among others: Adopt-a-Guardsman Foundation; Hidden Woods, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide peace of mind and comfort for military personnel suffering combat stress injuries such as PTSD, TBI and other psychological postwar challenges; Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; Military Child and Education Coalition; National Guard Association of South Carolina Auxiliary; and the South Carolina National Guard Office of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. She has been the director of human resources at Gregory Electric Company for the past 13 years. In this capacity, she is responsible for payroll and employee benefits, employee safety and training programs, and legal and labor related issues for employees in nine states. When her husband and CEO of Gregory Electric deployed to Afghanistan as the commander of 9,000 service members, she served as the primary adviser for operations of Gregory Electric. Livingston earned a bachelor's degree in guidance and counseling from Baptist College in Charleston, S.C., in 1977.
Anne Matthews is president of Matthews and Associates, an educational consulting firm in Columbia, S.C. She has three earned degrees: a bachelor's from Coker College, a master's in business from Appalachian State University and a doctorate from the University of South Carolina. She is an educator by profession, a published author, an education accreditation commissioner and a public speaker. Matthews has taught at the high school, technical college and university levels, and has worked in management roles for the South Carolina State Department of Education. She has spoken in all 50 states and in 35 foreign countries on educational issues and the Rotary International Foundation. She was the first woman elected to serve as the vice president of Rotary International and is the only woman elected to serve both as a trustee of the Rotary Foundation and on the Rotary International board of directors.
For more information or to register for the conference, visit the Conference and Celebration website at http://www.coastal.edu/women/conferenceandcelebration. For more information, contact Marjorie Thompson at 843-349-5037 or mthompson@coastal.edu.