The Spirited Women of Baltimore 2017 Award Winners Announced

BALTIMORE – MyCity4Her.com will present the 2017 Spirited Women of Baltimore Awards to the following 17 individuals “who make extraordinary contributions to their community and those around them”:

BALTIMORE’S SPIRITED WOMAN GIVING BACK AWARDS

• Shervonne Cherry – Community Manager, SPARK
• Heidi Klotzman – CEO, HeidnSeek Entertainment
• Caryn Sagal – Senior Vice President, Lawrence Howard & Associates
• Angelique Weger – Chapter Co-founder and Co-leader, “Girl Develop It”
• Rita Walters – Vice President of Advancement, MICA

BALTIMORE’S SPIRITED WOMAN IN BALANCE AWARDS

• Celeste Corsaro – Founder, Celestial Beauty and Co-Founder, Plant Bar
• Colleen Pleasant Klein – Partner, Miles and Stockbridge P.C.
• Elizabeth Mount – Executive Director, Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance
• Rebecca Klein Scott – Co Founder, Tall Small Productions

BALTIMORE’S SPIRITED WOMAN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Diana Torruella Gains – Founder, Su Casa Development LLC
• Victoria Schassler – Owner, Spirits of Mt Vernon
• Jasmine Simms – Owner, Scrub Nail Bar and Co-Founder, MOM Entrepreneurs
• Jenette Young – Owner, ComforCare

BALTIMORE’S SPIRITED MAN*

• Neil Meltzer – CEO, LifeBridge Health

BALTIMORE’S SPIRITED YOUNG MAN RISING*

• Seth Schafer – Vice President, Christopher Schafer Clothiers and co-founder of Sharp Dressed Man

*This is the first time males will be recognized for “supporting, lifting up and encouraging women to be all they can be.”

THE SPIRITED WOMAN Award of 2017

(Honoring the Co-Founders of Benevolent Baskets, a nonprofit organization which provides life skills and job training to formerly homeless women in Baltimore)

• Lesley Geisel
• Karen Lerario

“We are utterly humbled and grateful to be selected as part of this incredible group of women and as the beneficiary of the event,” Geisel and Lerario said. “As funding cuts loom for transitional housing, our work to help women get back on their feet through job training and employment is even more urgent. This opportunity is a game changer for us and we are honored to be included."

The Spirited Baltimoreans will receive their awards at the 8th annual Spirited Women of Baltimore Power Lunch & Awards, Friday Aug. 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Pier V Hotel (711 Eastern Ave., 21202) by the Inner Harbor.

Over 300 women and male leaders, doers, go getters and spirited members of the community are anticipated for high power networking, a gourmet meal and inspired awards presentation.

Activities will conclude with dessert by Atwaters at the Fall Memo shopping experience among Charm City’s finest fashion, wellness, beauty and luxury vendors – coordinated by Honorary Event Co-Chair, Owen Michael O’Donnell (makeup artist and STYLE Magazine contributing beauty editor). It will commence with a fashion presentation featuring the hottest Fall trends by premier couture designers Ella Pritsker and Christopher Schafer.

After the festivities, guests can stroll to McCormick and Schmick’s for the signature Skull Canadian Vodka Spirited Cocktail, where a portion of the proceeds will benefit the cause and continue the merriment.

Event proceeds will jointly benefit Benevolent Baskets and the Giving Spirits Foundation, a 501(c) 3 grass roots organization founded in 2007 that raises funds for emergency assistance, housing, education and job training programs, as well as local arts initiatives.

“This is our 8th year, after a long hiatus due to illness, I am so touched, heartened and excited to be able to see the interest and enthusiasm for this event - not to mention the amazing, often little known women, and this year men, we highlight,” said Monyka Berrocosa, founder/CCO of MyCity4Her.com, a digital media company that has catered to the needs of women in business since 2007.

“To be able to support great charities and raise awareness for their causes just makes it all even more worthwhile,” she added. “We're looking forward to a fantastic event!"

Admission to the Spirited Women of Baltimore Power Lunch & Awards is $80 per ticket and a sellout is anticipated. Exclusive shopping passes for the Fall Memo are $10 and include a chance to win a shopping spree of up to $150 with the participating vendors.

For more information about the Spirited Women of Baltimore Awards or to purchase tickets, visit https://mycity4her.com/her-events/the-spirited-woman-of-baltimore-awards-2017 or call 443-672-CITY (2489).

Since its inception, the Giving Spirits Foundation has honored 38 Spirited Women of Baltimore and donated over $150,000 in cash donations as well as supplies and in-kind services to the Red Cross of Central Maryland, The House of Ruth, Marian House, The Caroline Center and the American Heart Association-Maryland.

Past award winners include E. Rachael Baird of Tilt Studio, Erica McCullough of Living Legacy Cleaning Service, Susan Schapiro, an educational consultant; Bunny Kohn, an OCN at Sinai Hospital; Sheela Murphy of the Murphy Law Firm, and Louise Phipps Senft of Baltimore Mediation, Maria Johnson Darby of the Junior League, Ella Pritsker of Ella Moda Couture, Carol Coughlin of Bottom Line Growth and many others.