The Honorable Gordon A. Burrows<\/em> of the County Board of Legislators (District 15), sponsor of the day’s ceremony through freedom of access and free speech, greeted the gathered crowd with a message of support for the day’s events. He said he was especially looking forward to the keynote speaker on cord blood use and banking, a topic of particular interest to his wife. He then introduced attendee Vincenzia Restiano, candidate for Mayor of Yonkers, who acknowledged the crowd’s applause.<\/p>\n Linda Levirne (above) of the Northern Westchester and Putnam Center for Life in Katonah, NY, opened the program by introducing the Rev. Yolanda Jones of the Christ Prayer Warriors Outreach Ministry who gave the stirring Invocation. Also attending with the Rev. Jones was Mother Carr and Deacon Clifford W. Story of this Peekskill outreach ministry headed by the Rev. Geneva Patterson.<\/p>\n Regina Riely (above), co-chairperson of the Women’s Equality Day Reformed Committee, led the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of the National Anthem. "This 6th annual ceremony by our Reformed Committee happily celebrates with women of all voting persuasions," she said. She then invited all present to reflect with her on the history of the women’s movement that brought about the Ratification of the 19th Amendment and women’s voting rights on August 26, 1920 and the day’s theme, Women Helping Women<\/em>. Regina spoke of remarkable women role models that included previous Westchester honorees: Mildred Fay Jefferson, M.D., doctor, surgeon, woman’s advocate and first African-American woman graduate from Harvard Medical School; pediatrician Lisa Marrero, M.D.; educator Dorothea Muccigrosso; servants of indigent and terminally ill cancer patients, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne at Rosary Hill Home; and co-founder of the Westchester Women’s Leadership Roundtable for business and racial tolerance, Christine Mortell Plazas. Mrs. Muccigrosso (fourth) and Ms. Mortell Plazas (third from right below) were both in attendance, adding their personal grace and charismatic personalities to a day filled with remarkable presentations by women.<\/p>\n Regina spoke of the early suffragettes who "…ushered in a new, political way of women helping women…not a battle to usurp men’s roles or burdens, but to share them…and (bring) women into the official decision-making process in America…" "Women had no rights of their own, but their concern for the human dignity of others drew them into the abolitionist and temperance movements of the day." These associations introduced them to each other and through them began their mutual commitment to elevate women and bring them into "enfranchisement": full citizenship and personal dignity. Read Regina’s complete text posting. <\/p>\n <\/a> The WEDR Committee co-chair Judith Anderson introduced Nora Kelly, above, <\/p>\n Regional Manager for White Plains of Cord Blood Registry (see complete <\/p>\n introduction on separate posting) whose keynote address was an enjoyable<\/p>\n and enlightening presentation of this sadly under-reported, ethical aspect of <\/p>\n stem cell treatments. Bright and articulate, Nora spoke of the many <\/p>\n successful clincal treatments of diseases using "naive" and powerful cord blood <\/p>\n stem cells, treatments which far surpass even bone marrow adult stem cells <\/p>\n in their regenerative properties. Nora shared the shocking statistic that only 4% <\/p>\n of cord blood is presently banked in either public banks or private ones, her <\/p>\n Cord Blood Registry being the largest and one of the most reputable – an <\/p>\n important factor that she stressed must be researched when considering cord<\/p>\n blood banking. Also, medical doctors must begin to inform expectant parents of <\/p>\n this vital option available to them. This is a practical and unique "gift of life" by <\/p>\n family or friends for new mothers and fathers-to-be. We will try to post several <\/p>\n of Nora’s Power Point charts. She can be reached for speaking engagements or <\/p>\n for information at the Cord Blood Registry 888-227-2980 Ext. 564; or, <\/p>\n email her at nkelly@cordblood.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \n \n <\/a><\/p>\n The 2007 Honoree, Gabrielle Long Wright, CNM, shown above and below <\/p>\n with the Mott-Stanton-Anthony Award, was introduced to attendees by Linda. <\/p>\n Gabrielle spoke of her personal and professional journey as certified nurse-<\/p>\n midwife, teacher of the holistic Creighton Model Fertility Care System, and <\/p>\n advocate for women’s maternal health. Read Linda’s introduction and don’t <\/p>\n miss Gabrielle’s inspiring story in her own words. See ceremony text posting.<\/p>\n \n \n![\"Wedr081007_001_8\"](\"http:\/\/hvcljournal.typepad.com\/photos\/uncategorized\/2007\/08\/14\/wedr081007_001_8.jpg\" "\\"Wedr081007_001_8\\"")
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