Women in Business, Jobs, Women Entrepreneurs, Women in the News: News On Women

Sheila Rostiac Made President of the PSEG Foundation

PSEG, the diversified energy company with revenues of $12 billion, appointed Sheila Rostiac President of the PSEG Foundation and Director of Corporate Social Responsibility. Sheila had been in PSEG's human resources department as director of client relations. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Nancy Kete Made a Managing Director at The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation appointed Nancy Kete a Managing Director. Nancy, who holds a Ph.D. in geography and environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University, will focus on the Foundation's global work on Resilience. "I am honored to join the Rockefeller Foundation staff and further its work to find the kinds of policies, institutions, and practices that will enable poor and vulnerable to survive, adapt, and grow in the face of acute crises and chronic stresses," said Dr. Kete. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Donella M. Rapier Made Chief Development and Administration Officer at ACCION

ACCION®, a pioneer in global microfinance, appointed Donella M. Rapier Chief Development and Administration Officer. Donella, who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, had been Chief Financial Officer at Partners In Health (PIH), a Boston-based organization which provides health care and socioeconomic services and support to at-need communities, and before that was Harvard University's Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Samasource, Founded by Leila Janah, receives $1.25 Million Grant from Google.org.

Samasource, the nonprofit provider of distributed data management and content services founded by Leila Janah which connects people living in poverty to work via the Internet, received a $1.25 million dollar grant from Google.org. Samasource has now raised a total of $5 million from social investors including the eBay, Ford and Rockefeller Foundations. Read more in the marketwire press release on marketwatch.com.

Michelle Ernsdorff Creates "Compass to Care" to Help Children with Cancer and their Families

Michelle Ernsdorff, Founder of Compass to Care, has a passion to help children with cancer. As a childhood cancer survivor, Michelle knows the emotional and financial struggles her parents faced while traveling to get her the best care, and her foundation is dedicated to scheduling and paying for the travel arrangements the families of children with cancer require. Michelle, who holds a BS in Nuclear Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia and an MBA from Northeastern Illinois University, had a successful career in the healthcare environment before deciding to dedicate her life to Compass to Care full-time. Michelle now brings her knowledge and proven success in effective business planning, brand and market awareness, process and procedure development to Compass to Care.

Veronica Melvin Made President and CEO of LA's Promise

LA's Promise, the nonprofit organization working to shift the education, health and social outcomes for thousands of youth, appointed Veronica Melvin President and CEO. Veronica had been Chief Operating Officer of Communities for Teaching Excellence. Veronica was appointed by President Obama in July 2011 to serve on the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence of Hispanics. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Dolores Lowery Made Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Community Involvement at FirstEnergy Corp and President of the FirstEnergy Foundation

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) appointed Dolores J. Lowery Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Community Involvement, and also President of the FirstEnergy Foundation. Dolores had been Director of External Affairs for Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), a FirstEnergy utility. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

The Elizabeth Edwards Foundation Established to Support Youth with Limited Resources

The Elizabeth Edwards Foundation was recently founded in honor of Elizabeth Edwards, a great lawyer and a great mother, to provide educational opportunities and support to youth with limited resources. Cate Edwards (pictured) is the President of the Foundation. "My mom always said that the best thing you can give your children is wings, because you won't always be there to bring food back to the nest," says Cate. "At the Elizabeth Edwards Foundation, we're continuing my mom's work – to try to give more children the wings they need and deserve." The Foundation will run the The Elizabeth Fellows Program is where high school students that show great potential but have limited resources will be indentified and provided with needed support and a broad network of resources. Read more on elizabethedwards.org.

Documentary Filmmaker Mary Mazzio and her film THE APPLE PUSHERS Gets National Tour

The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund announced the national screening tour of THE APPLE PUSHERS, a new documentary film by award-winning documentary filmmaker Mary Mazzio (pictured left). THE APPLE PUSHERS is the story of five immigrant pushcart vendors who have joined the NYC Green Cart initiative, a program that uses street vending as a way to increase fresh fruits and vegetables in New York City's "food deserts". Laurie Tisch (pictured right), President of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, is the Executive Producer. The film will be shown  in New York (October 21), in Boston (October 24), and a special panel discussion to be webcast in Atlanta (November 2), moderated by CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Read more in the prnewswire press release. Watch a clip:

Samasource Founder and CEO Leila Janah Hopes to Raise Money and Awareness at the "Work Give Gala" in San Francisco Nov 4, 2011

Samasource, the nonprofit founded by Leila Janah (pictured) that generates wages from computer-based work for women, youth, and refugees living in poverty, is holding its "Give Work Gala" and live auction on Friday, November 4, 2011 in San Francisco. Samasource provides content moderation, data entry, and other outsourcing services through its "microwork" center concept, and its clients include LinkedIn, Intuit, and the US State Department. Samasource has paid out more than $1.1 million in wages to people in need. Leila hopes to raise $400,000 for marginalized women and youth in East Africa, South Asia and Latin America at the Give Work Gala event. “Work is at the core of human dignity. Samasource extends its benefits to the world's poorest people," says Leila, who is also the Samasource CEO.

Sylvia Mathews Burwell Made President of the Walmart Foundation

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation appointed Sylvia Mathews Burwell President of the Walmart Foundation. Sylvia is currently President of Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Citi Foundation CEO Pamela Flaherty announces Research Study "Asset Building Through Credit"

Pamela Flaherty, President & CEO of the Citi Foundation, announced the "Asset Building Through Credit Program", a research effort run by The Aspen Institute that will study "a multi-dimensional approach to building credit and financial opportunities for aspiring low-income entrepreneurs". Citi Foundation will be funding the study with a $750,000 grant. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Deborah Dugan Made Chief Executive Officer of (RED)

(RED), the organization created by Bono and Bobby Shriver to drive corporate profits into the fight against AIDS, appointed Deborah Dugan as Chief Executive Officer. Deborah had been Senior Advisor to the Tribeca Enterprises Board, the global media company that operates the Tribeca Film Festival. Deborah had previously been the President of Disney Publishing Worldwide. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Lesley Mansford Made Chief Executive Officer at Razoo.com

Razoo.com, a giving and fundraising website where "users can not only donate and fundraise easily, but also explore popular causes; get to know top fundraisers; receive fundraising ideas; and connect with their friends, family and network", appointed Lesley Mansford Chief Executive Officer. Lesley was Co-Founder and COO of pogo.com, the online casual games community, and her background includes years of senior level marketing and operational experience with interactive entertainment companies such as Electronic Arts. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Annette Gantt and Heather Clawson Join "Communities in Schools"

Communities In Schools, the organization dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life, appointed Annette Gantt (pictured) Vice President of Field Operations and Knowledge Management. Annette has extensive experience and managed organizational growth for youth serving organizations including Hillside Family of Agencies and Earth Conservation Corps. Communities in Schools also appointed Dr. Heather Clawson Vice President of Research and Evaluation. Heather has extensive experience as a program evaluator for school and community-based prevention, intervention and enrichment programs for at-risk children and youth. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Lynn Jurich Joins the Board of the Startup America Partnership

The Startup America Partnership appointed Lynn Jurich to its founding Board. Lynn is the President and Co-Founder of SunRun, a residential solar company. The Startup America Partnership was formed to help entrepreneurs start and scale their companies to accelerate job growth. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Terri McCullough Made Executive Director at The Tory Burch Foundation

The Tory Burch Foundation, which empowers women entrepreneurs through microfinance and mentoring, appointed Terri McCullough its Executive Director. Terri had been Chief of Staff and Advisor, focusing on policy affecting women and families, for Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Deborah Taft Made Senior Vice President for Fund Development at the Girl Scouts of the USA

Girl Scouts of the USA appointed Deborah Taft Senior Vice President for Fund Development. Deborah had been interim Vice President for Advancement at Simmons College in Boston. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Susie Brown Made Executive Director of the NeuroScience Foundation

The newly launched NeuroScience Foundation, established to advance the process of finding treatment options and a cure for neurological diseases, such as Stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, appointed Susie W. Brown as Executive Director. Susie, who holds a Masters of Health Science in Administration from Wichita State University, previously held positions with New York Urban League and Center for Children’s Initiatives. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Donna Cryer Made Chair of the American Liver Foundation

Donna Cryer, CEO of CryerHealth LLC, recently became Chair of the Amerian Liver Foundation. Donna is the first female and the first minority to be Chair. Donna, a graduate of Harvard and Georgetown University Law Center, has 14 years of healthcare experience in for-profit and non-profit settings, including the global public relations company Hill & Knowlton. Donna is also serving as a patient representative to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.