L'Oréal Paris announced the names of this year's honorees at its ninth annual Women of Worth celebration on Tuesday.
The event was attended by a number of celebrities and L'Oréal brand ambassadors, who also gave presentations, including Blake Lively, Julianne Moore, Diane Keaton, Eva Longoria, Andie MacDowell and Aimee Mullins.
At the awards, ten women were selected for their extraordinary contributions to communities through volunteering including Phyllis Sudman, who was awarded the grand title of 2014 Women of Worth National Honoree and $25,000, for her work as co-founder of Simon's Fund – an organisation that raises awareness about the conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
“I am truly grateful to be chosen as one of this year's Women of Worth and to be voted the National Honoree,” said Sudman. “This recognition is important on many levels; it validates Simon's Fund and our work as we educate even more people to help save lives, and it demonstrates that when we focus on helping others, we can make a difference in the world.”
The honorees were selected following a nomination and voting process led by L'Oréal Paris and the world's largest organisation for volunteer service, Points of Light.
The nine other honorees, who received $10,000 each, were: Corinne Cannon, Founder and Executive Director of DC Diaper Bank; Stephanie Decker, Founder of The Stephanie Decker Foundation; Shaaron Funderburk, Founder of Off the Streets Program; Mary K Hoodhood, Founder and Director of Kids' Food Basket; Rachel R Jackson-Bramwell, Founder and Executive Director of Project Compassion and Compassionate Resources Center; Deborah Snyder, President and CEO of Operation Renewed Hope Foundation; Brittany Wenger, Founder of Cloud4Cancer; audra DiPadova Wilford, Founder of MaxLove Project; and Jenny Williamson, Founder and CEO of Courage Worldwide.
L'Oréal Paris President Karen Fondu, said: “Every year at this event I am humbled by the unwavering determination, commitment and strength of our Women of Worth honorees. These women are making a difference and are incredible role models for us all. We are committed to bringing the stories of all of our Women of Worth – past and present – to new audiences with the vision of inspiring even more women to follow their passion and make an impact.”
