Miami-Dade County - Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces

Nominations are now being accepted for the 27th Annual in the Company of Women Awards

Nominations can now be done online for the first time in the event’s history, or can be done in hard copy form and mailed in by October 10, 2014

(MIAMI, September 3, 2014) — Nominations are now being accepted for the 27th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Ceremony, scheduled for March 5, 2015 at the Coral Gables Country Club, as part of Women’s History Month. New this year, the nomination package can all be done online through the event’s website, making it easier and more accessible to people. However, nomination forms can still be printed out and mailed in with all the supporting documents as instructed on the nomination form. Deadline for nominations is October 10, 2014.

Hosted by the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, in partnership with the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women and Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, In the Company of Women recognizes women who have shown professional development, community responsibility, contribution to women’s progress, leadership and vision, and promotion of pluralism.

Nominations of women are being sought for the following categories:

Outstanding Woman in Arts and Entertainment
Outstanding Woman in Business and Economics
Outstanding Woman in Communications and Literature
Outstanding Woman in Education and Research
Outstanding Woman in Government and Law o Elected o Non-elected
Outstanding Woman in Health and Human Services
Outstanding Woman in Science and Technology
Outstanding Woman in Sports and Athletics
Community Spirit Award
The Mayor’s Pioneer Award
The Posthumous Award

The Community Spirit Award recognizes an outstanding woman who, through volunteering, has made a difference within the community. No professional background is required.

The Mayor’s Pioneer Award honors a trailblazer who has proven leadership, creativity, and vision in addressing community issues and advancing the status of women in Miami-Dade County. The Posthumous Award is in honor of a woman who has passed away and recognizes her contribution within Miami-Dade County.

To nominate a woman online, or download the nomination form for mailing, please visit http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/company-of-women.asp. Completed forms must be mailed to Laura Morilla, Executive Director, Miami-Dade County Commission for Women, 111 NW 1st Street, Suite 1034, Miami, FL, 33128. Nomination packages must be postmarked by Friday, October 10, 2014.

A committee of community leaders reviews the nomination forms in order to determine the nominee’s eligibility and to choose the final awardees. Emphasis will be placed on the nominee’s contribution to women’s progress in her profession/area of interest. For the Mayor’s Pioneer Award, emphasis will be on overall involvement in the community and women’s progress. The selection committee also reviews the nominations for Mayor’s Pioneer Award and provides their recommendations to appointees from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez’s office, who then choose the winner.

Hard-copy nomination packages must include the completed nomination form and photocopies of all supporting documents, such as resume, letters of recommendation, and newspaper or magazine articles about the nominee. Each packet MUST include nine complete sets of everything submitted for review. Nominations submitted online must include one of each of the same supporting documents listed above. Any nominations that fail to include the above-mentioned items and/or do not meet the application deadline will be automatically disqualified. Nominations will not be accepted via email. Past recipients of the In the Company of Women award are not eligible for nomination. For more information and for a list of past award recipients, please go to http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/company-of-women.asp or contact Laura Morilla at 305-375-4967, email [email protected].

About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department: Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award and winner of the 2009 Florida Governor’s Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more.

For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/ .

About The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.liveaparklife.org.

About The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women The Commission for Women falls within the purview of Miami-Dade’s Office of Community Advocacy, a division of the Chair’s Office. The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, the County administration and the public at large about issues pertaining to the status of women. The Commission for Women also advocates for women in the community and strives to improve their quality of life. For more information call (305) 375-4967, email [email protected]; or visit the website at www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/women-board-home.asp.