Handbag heft

LITTLE ROCK — Judy Tenenbaum was named the Woman of the Year in Philanthropy on Oct. 21 at the 14th annual Power of the Purse. The luncheon at the Statehouse Convention Center is a celebration of women by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas.

Tenenbaum was introduced by Debby Nye of Bentonville, first vice president of the foundation’s board of directors.

“We look for a woman that is actively involved in the community through volunteerism and financial support,” Nye said. “She is to be regarded as a leader in the community and considered to be a mentor or role model and possesses a strong sense of what needs to be done in that community and actsupon it.”

“Judy not only possesses all of these qualities,” Nye said, “but she lives them daily.”

Also honored at the event were six organizations receiving grants from the Women’s Foundation. They were CasaWomen’s Shelter of Pine Bluff for a job training program coordinator; the Girls Scout Diamonds of Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma for a financial literacy program for girls; Girls Inc. for their Girls Dig It! program; Methodist Family Health for Arkansas Cares; the Ozark Literacy Council for a financial literacy program for women; and the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County for a women’s employment initiative.

Keynote speaker was Abigail E. Disney, a philanthropist and filmmaker who made Pray the Devil Back to Hell, about the Liberian women who peacefully ended their country’s civil war. Elizabeth Bintliff served as chairman of the event and Pamela Smith served as master of ceremonies.