ATHENA International™ Creates New Award to Recognize Organizational Leadership

CHICAGO, IL – November 16, 2009 – ATHENA International™, the world’s premiere organization devoted to supporting, developing and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential, and  creating balance in leadership worldwide, has created the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award.  The award offers a means to recognize those businesses and organizations that support, develop, and honor women leaders.   The first ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award was presented to the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, at the ATHENA Leadership Award luncheon in Chicago on November 4th.  

“This prestigious, organizational leadership award is a natural extension of the original ATHENA Award® and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.  It actively supports ATHENA’s mission to cultivate women leaders via programs that honor them,” says Dianne Dinkel, President and CEO of ATHENA International™.  “By recognizing those organizations around the world for their contributions to women’s leadership, we can encourage others to emulate them, and create a climate that fosters the development of women leaders.” 

The new ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award is designed to accompany and enhance current ATHENA Award® programs.  Currently, over 220 communities worldwide recognize and encourage women’s leadership by participating in the ATHENA Award® programs.   

“In communities that participate in the ATHENA Award® program, the number and caliber of women leaders increases – to the benefit of the entire community,” notes Dinkel.  “We think it is also important to recognize those organizations that actively support women leadership.”

Founded more than 25 years ago, ATHENA International™ is known for building women leaders and recognizing leadership initiatives among women. The organization is headquartered in Chicago and is well known for its award programs that have honored over 5,800 women leaders in more than eight countries.  ATHENA is proud to acknowledge KPMG as international underwriter.  For more information, visit the organization's website at http://www.athenainternational.org or call 312.580.0111. 

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