News
Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk honors Women’s Mentoring Network president
By Press Release
May 12, 2008 - 6:52:47 AM

The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk, Inc. (JLSN) recently honored Leslie Caney Berni, President of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Mentoring Network (WMN), with its 2008 Community Leadership Award. The award was presented May 3rd at the League’s Spring Spirits Silent Auction and Wine Tasting event held at the Silvermine Guild Arts Center in New Canaan.

“Leslie Berni exemplifies the spirit of the Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk’s Community Leadership Award, directly contributing to the financial and social empowerment of disadvantaged women and their children throughout our community,” said JLSN President Karen Gibbons, as she presented the award.

The Women’s Mentoring Network, a nonprofit organization based in Stamford, provides career, educational and personal resources to promote permanent financial independence for economically and socially disadvantaged women and their families in lower Fairfield County. Its services include everything from consulting on resumes to holding weekly workshops on topics ranging from self-esteem and parenting to job searching. WMN raises money to send its women to college and makes sure their children can finish school and go on to college or a trade of their choice.

“Women’s Mentoring does for disadvantaged women, from teenagers to seniors, what a lifetime of family and friends did for me,” said Caney Berni. “We empower women who then empower their families, thus breaking the cycle of generational poverty. I am flattered and very happy to get this award, but it’s really the WMN women, I believe, who’ve earned it today. . . . It’s because of them that I am able to see more clearly what’s really important in life and that I’m inspired to do the work that I do.”

The JLSN Community Leadership Award is presented to a community leader whose outstanding contributions impact the areas of Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and/or Wilton. With each presentation of the Award, the JLSN recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional work in one or more of the JLSN focus areas: positive youth development, child health and welfare and self-sufficiency of women. Past recipients of the JLSN Community Leadership Award include: Moira K. Lyons, Rev. Richard Schuster, Laura L. Simon, Richard Fuller Sr., Ginger Katz, and Alonzo Virgil. JLSN was proud to honor Ms. Caney Berni with a commemorative engraved bowl and a check for $1000 to the Women’s Mentoring Network.

The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk, Inc. (JLSN) is a not-for-profit organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. One of 293 member leagues of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (www.ajli.org), JLSN reaches out to women age 21 or over, of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in, and a commitment to, volunteerism. No sponsors are required.

JLSN serves the communities of Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston, Westport, Ridgefield and the vicinity. Women interested in joining JLSN can contact the League office in Darien at 203-655-4662 or by email at jlsn@snet.net or visit the website at www.jlsn.org for further information.

For more information on the Women’s Mentoring Network, please visit wmninc.org or contact WMN Executive Director Louise Moss, 348-3828.

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