Tonight, the Ms. Foundation for Women will honor National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) Executive Director Silvia Henriquez as one of three "2010 Women of Vision" awardees at its annual Gloria Awards. The "Women of Vision" award celebrates grassroots women activists and philanthropists whose achievements bring us closer to our vision of a just and inclusive democracy.   “I am deeply honored to receive the Ms. Foundation’s prestigious Women of Vision award,” said Silvia Henriquez, executive director of NLIRH.  “Since NLIRH’s inception, the Ms. Foundation has been a partner in our work to mobilize Latinas and demand full health care access, including abortion coverage, for all women and immigrants.“ 

Under Silvia's leadership, NLIRH has become one of the organizations on the forefront of the reproductive health and justice movements for Latinas and immigrants.  During the health care reform debates, NLIRH organized local advocates for outreach to members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, headlined a national abortion rights lobby day in Washington, D.C., and solidified relationships with immigration rights coalitions to build support for upcoming reforms that recognize the reproductive health and rights of all immigrant women. NLIRH is also a founding member of the National Coalition for Immigrant Women’s Rights, which defends and promotes equality for immigrant women and their families, and has been a vocal opponent of Arizona’s discriminatory immigration law.

"The Ms. Foundation is thrilled to honor Silvia for her outstanding work leading NLIRH," said Sara K. Gould, President & CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women. "Her exemplary vision and passion for social change have helped propel the organization to remarkable success in the fight for reproductive justice, health-care reform and immigrants' rights. We are truly honored to be a partner in their groundbreaking efforts."

Silvia will be receiving the Women of Vision award along with Carol Burnett, founder and executive director of the Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative in Mississippi, and Jasmin Woodbury, youth organizer for DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality) in Rhode Island.

The 2010 Philanthropic Leadership Awardees include Jennifer and Peter Buffett and the NoVo Foundation for their pioneering work to end child sexual abuse (Philanthropic Vision Award) and Jane Comer, who has worked on behalf of women and girls.

The awards are being held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at the Time Warner Building in New York City.

For more information on the awardees and the Ms. Foundation, please visit www.ms.foundation.org.

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