International Women's Day 2014-Inspiring Change!

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” ― Maya Angelou

Each year International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8. It's a day the world celebrates the social, political and economic achievements of women while focusing attention on areas requiring further action. The reality is that still, all over the world, women and girls are denied the opportunity to fulfill their potential and the right to personal safety, health and education, simply because they are born female. The 2014 International Women’s Day theme is Inspiring Change and "encourages advocacy for women’s advancement everywhere in every way."

I believe each of us can make a difference for women in our community and around the world. One small gesture from each and every one of us can begin a movement toward change. 

We’re proud to support these organizations that are doing incredible work to help women locally and globally:

Go Red for Women/American Heart Association fights heart disease in women. A little known fact is that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every minute!

One By One is dedicated to restoring the health and dignity of women with obstetric fistula worldwide and to helping create the conditions needed for all women to give birth safely.

Providence Regina House provides food, clothing, and other basic necessities to families in Seattle, WA.

We all have endless opportunities to engage and make a difference!  To paraphrase Gandhi: “Start the change you wish to see.”  If you can make a charitable donation to an organization that helps women, great! If you can’t, consider volunteering for them.  Use the great power of social media to have your voice be heard in the fight for equality for women and for the injustices against them. You can support the petitions of others, or start your own on an issue you care about.

Take a moment tomorrow to think about women and girls living with poverty, hunger and injustice and ways you can join us in inspiring change.

Happy International Women’s Day 2014!

R O S A N N A I N C . C O M