White Plains, N. Y. – September 18, 2002 -- The Pace Women’s Justice Center (WJC) will honor social justice leaders and advocates Eve Ensler and Camille Failla Murphy at
A Celebration of Justice for Women, the Center’s annual benefit dinner, to be held at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown on Wednesday, October 2.

"Eve Ensler and Camille Murphy are pioneers of change for women’s rights. Their work is saving lives," said Victoria L. Lutz, the Executive Director of the WJC. "Every 15 seconds somewhere around the world a woman is battered, usually by her husband, lover or partner. Through the innovative use of the law, the Pace Women’s Justice Center is working to eradicate this violence and further women’s legal rights. We are privileged to honor these exceptional women who are partners in our mission of justice for women."

Eve Ensler, who is best known for her Obie-Award-winning play, The Vagina Monologues, is the founder of V-Day, a global movement that helps anti-violence organizations throughout the world continue and expand their core work while drawing public attention to the larger fight to stop worldwide violence (including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sexual slavery) against women and girls. Ms. Ensler travels all over the world in her quest to stop violence against women and girls so that they may be, in her words, ‘free to thrive, rather than merely survive’. Ms. Ensler will receive the Creative Vision for Women’s Justice Award for her singular dedication to women’s rights and her relentless efforts to stop the violence.

The founder and director of the Westchester Office for Women, Camille Failla Murphy, will accept the Diane White Legal Advocacy Award for her inspirational leadership and advocacy on behalf of women. Ms. Murphy is also the founder and director of the Women’s Research and Education Fund, former president of both the National Association of Commissions for Women and the National Women’s Commission Education and Research Fund, and the chair of the Westchester Domestic Violence Council. She has been instrumental in the creation and development of the Family Court Legal Program, through which the WJC and its partners annually represent more than 900 victims of domestic violence and their children.

Prior to the dinner, the Silent Auction in the Pavilion Promenade, will offer more than 90 donated auction items, including a four-day Royal Caribbean cruise for two to Bermuda, a three-day Disneyworld vacation for four, a golf foursome at the Westchester Country Club, catered parties in your home, jewelry, several dinners for two at many popular Westchester restaurants, and enough tickets to sports events to keep your favorite sports addict busy for an entire year.

Proceeds from the event and silent auction support the Pace Women’s Justice Center, a non-profit organization that annually conducts trainings for thousands of judges, law enforcement officers, attoneys, and law students. The WJC has pioneered the 24/7 provision of legal services to battered women by partnering with the White Plains Department of Public Safety, so that victims of domestic violence can receive legal services when they need them most, even at 2 o’clock in the morning. Each year the WJC provides direct representation to more than 900 victims of domestic violence and their children. Annually, the WJC conducts more than 100 domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, and other training programs. It also has produced public service announcements for the Violence Against Women’s Office of the federal government concerning domestic violence, written judicial training manuals, and published many articles on these topics. Its help lines address over 800 calls per year.

Tables are available from $1,500 to $10,000. Individual tickets are $150.

For reservations or more information about the dinner, please contact Judy Russo at (914) 422-4424, or judyrusso@law.pace.edu.