Monday Top Ten: Successful Women of Central Valley

On March 31, the State Theatre in Modesto will screen the film “Half the Sky,” a documentary filmed in 10 countries that depicts the stories of four women who have turned various forms of oppression into opportunity.

The event is a fundraiser for three local women’s groups: Haven Women’s Center, anti-human trafficking group Without Permission, and the screening’s sponsor, Successful Women of Central Valley.

The Successful Women group is a nonprofit dedicated to “supporting, educating and empowering women in all aspects of their lives,” according to a press release from founder Kimberly Vaughan.

The film includes appearances by celebrities including George Clooney, Susan Sarandon, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes and Meg Ryan. It looks to unveil oppressive acts against women and the harsh realities many women face worldwide.

The SWCV viewing March 31 will kick off with a silent auction, and there will be light food, drinks and cocktails available for purchase. The program begins at 6 p.m., including a discussion panel and the film.

Panelists include May Rico, executive director of Haven Women’s Center; Debbie Johnson, founder and director of Without Permission; Courtney Baldwin, a community activist and intern with Without Permission; and two local sex-trafficking survivors.

In advance of the event, Vaughan offers the Top Ten things to know about Successful Women of Central Valley:

1. We are a 501C3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to empowering, supporting, encouraging and celebrating women in our community.

2. Our mission is to bring an eclectic, diverse group of women together to empower, inspire, connect, support and assist each other, as women, to achieve personal, professional and/or community goals. Additionally, our mission is to share the Whole Woman Concept and honor individual successes in all areas of each other’s lives – big and small, intrinsic and monetary, personal, professional, family or community-based successes, as they are all equally valuable to the growth of the Whole Woman.

3. Members and their guests meet the first Thursday of every month at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center on Sisk Road at 5:30 p.m. to network, mix and mingle. A guest speaker is invited to most all of our mixers. We have welcomed many speakers, including Virginia Madueño, Nathalie Chapron, Lynn Telford Sahl, Kimberly Reyes, Julie Foucht and other remarkable women to talk on a variety of personal, community and business-related topics. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Dinner is included.

4. We are a volunteer, board-driven nonprofit with an active, vivacious board. Our directors are Ginny Hollis, Melissa Bruce, Amanda Hillsdale, Narinder Bahia, Tanja Wright, Chinyere Nnodim Jack and Kimberly Vaughan.

5. Successful Women of Central Valley is a member-based organization that sends a monthly e-newsletter, titled WeWzine, Women Empowering Women eZine. The monthly distribution discusses upcoming events that relate to improving the lives of women in our community, features Central Valley women, shares articles, ideas and group information.

6. Membership is open to businesses and individuals and costs $120 per year. Options to purchase a mobile app for one’s business are available for $10 per month, as are low-cost banner advertising opportunities for businesses hoping to reach women in our community.

7. The SWCV can be found participating in many community events to build awareness about the diversity of women in our community, issues that affect Central Valley women and the group’s mission and purpose. Events SWCV has attended this past year include the High Tea of Hope, Power of the Purse, Modesto Women’s Expo, Love Modesto and the International Wedding Festival.

8. Successful Women of Central Valley began organically as a Facebook group, which has grown to more than 1,800 women. The Facebook group continues to grow and offers an “ad-free place” for women to connect with like-minded women for the purpose of empowering, supporting and encouraging one another in an anti-commerce, pro-community place that promotes the Whole Woman Concept.

9. SWCV has a wonderful website where community events, seminars, classes and more are included on the community calendar. All organizations that host events that are in the interest of or would interest women are welcome to submit their events to the website, www.swcv.org

10. SWCV is accepting sponsorships, donations and auction item gifts to reach its goal of $20,000 for the “Half the Sky” benefit film viewing on March 31 at State Theatre. Should you be interested in supporting this event, contact wesupportyou@swcv.org.

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 2:38 PM with the headline "Monday Top Ten: Successful Women of Central Valley."