Manuel Pastor and Gael Sylvia Pullen to Keynote Women's Foundation of California Giving Circle Conference

LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Women's Foundation of California (www.womensfoundca.org) announced today that Manuel Pastor, professor and founder of the Center for Justice, Tolerance and Community and Gael Sylvia Pullen, ardent philanthropist and founder of Sylvia Global Media Network, will be keynote speakers at the Foundation's first ever Giving Circle Network conference to be held in Los Angeles on April 4-April 5, 2014. Options are available for Friday or Saturday night only.

The Women's Foundation of California has been hosting and educating giving circles for the past 10 years. The result? Foundation hosted giving circles have awarded more than $10 million to grassroots organizations in California.

"Giving circles serve a very powerful purpose in the world of philanthropy. They provide a space for individuals to build community, develop into philanthropic leaders and transform financial capital into a tool for social justice," said Michelle Ramos-Burkhart, Giving Circle Program Officer at the Women's Foundation of California. "In addition, our circles primarily make grants to small and emerging social justice organizations that are led by women, particularly women of color. Many of these organizations received their first grants from our giving circles."

Other conference speakers include:

• Sheona Richardson Som, Helen MacKinnon and Susan Kokores on key considerations and steps for creating a healthy and vital giving circle
• Cara Esposito, Merle Brodie and Bummi Esho on how mentorship can enliven, and  invigorate giving and giving circles
• Marci Eads on integrating values, instincts, evaluation strategies and logic to make strategic giving decisions that result in the impact you desire

For a complete agenda and to register for one day or the entire conference, go to http://womensfoundca.org/event/giving-circle-network-2014-conference

Event Details:
Friday, April 4-Saturday, April 5, 2014
The Omni Hotel, Los Angeles
251 S Olive St
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Registration: $399 for current giving circle members; $499 for general public
Hotel accommodations not included.
$100.00 –Friday night dinner only
$250.00 – Saturday all day only
$100.00 Students full conference

About the Women's Foundation of California:

The Women's Foundation of California is a publicly supported grant making foundation that invests in women as a key strategy for creating a California where all communities are economically secure and can thrive.

SOURCE Women's Foundation of California