SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- More than 400 child care
advocates, government representatives, community and business leaders came
together today to honor three remarkable individuals and their achievements in
the child care arena at the third annual Shining Star Awards luncheon.
The recipients of the 2002 Shining Star Awards, which are co-sponsored by
the Children's Council of San Francisco and Providian Financial Corporation
(NYSE: PVN), were Milagros Acosta, Fran Kipnis and Maria Luz Torre.
-- Milagros Acosta, president of the Mission Neighborhood Advisory
Committee and licensed child care provider. Milagros has owned and
operated a private day care facility for twenty years, during which
time she has also devoted boundless energy to educating and organizing
other licensed and unlicensed child care providers. Last year,
Milagros was a key organizer of the Bay Area's first Hispanic Child
Care Professionals conference.
-- Fran Kipnis, Children, Families and Communities program officer, The
David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Fran started as a research
director for the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network,
during which time she served on the San Francisco Child Care and
Advisory Council and on the San Francisco Child Care Information
Project. As program officer at the David and Lucile Packard
Foundation, Fran has continued her work to improve services for
California's families and children.
-- Maria Luz Torre, lead organizer, San Francisco Parent Voices. As lead
organizer for San Francisco Parent Voices, Maria has helped local
advocates win $3 million in annual child care subsidy support,
coordinated successful media and legislative campaigns and strengthened
collaborative relationships with other non-profit and governmental
organizations. Over a three-year period, Maria has helped save child
care entitlements and coverage for more than 10,000 California
families.
"Providian continues to be actively involved on this vital issue of
affordable child care and is proud to help recognize these exceptional Shining
Stars for giving so much of themselves to the child care cause," said
Providian Chairman and CEO, Joseph Saunders.
This year's Shining Star Awards event, entitled "Now More Than Ever," was
held in the Grand Ballroom of the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.
Jan Yanehiro, an Emmy award-winning Bay Area journalist, was emcee of the
event.
"Now, more than ever, we need the work of people like the shining stars we
honored today," said Linnea Klee, executive director of the Children's Council
of San Francisco. "Our 2002 Shining Star recipients have each made a
significant impact within the child care arena. The people who take care of
young children, play with them, nurture them, teach them and keep them safe
make an enormous and positive contribution to our society. The Children's
Council is proud to join together again with Providian to honor individuals
for the work that they do every day to enhance and support quality, affordable
child care."
Additional sponsors of the Shining Stars Awards luncheon include: Bank of
America; Bechtel; the California State Automobile Association; Catellus Urban
Development Group; Catholic Healthcare West; Clear Channel Media; Gap, Inc.;
Gensler; Golden Gate Bank; The Hellman Family; Jurika & Voyles LP; Korn Ferry
International; KPMG; Levi Strauss & Co.; Macy's West; Norcal Waste Systems;
Pacific, Gas & Electric; San Francisco Business Times; the San Francisco
Giants; Shartsis, Friese, & Ginsburg; United Parcel Service; Webcor; and Wells
Fargo.
About Providian Financial
San Francisco-based Providian Financial (http://www.providian.com) is a leader in
supporting child care programs both nationally and locally. In 2001, Providian
awarded 145 grants to child care organizations. Half of those grants, worth
more than $ 1.5 million, went to Bay Area organizations dedicated to improving
the quality of child care and addressing related issues. One of America's
largest bankcard issuers, Providian has approximately $20 billion in managed
receivables and 13 million customer accounts.
About the Children's Council
The Children's Council of San Francisco has been serving children and
families in all of San Francisco's communities for more than 28 years. A
nonprofit organization, CCSF helps parents find high-quality, affordable child
care and offers professional training and support to child care providers. The
agency also plays an important role in child care planning and policy making.
Along with other local, statewide, and national advocacy organizations, CCSF
works to raise public awareness about child care issues and public support for
child care funding. Supported by the San Francisco Department of Human
Resources, the Child Development Division of the California Department of
Education, and other public and private agencies, Children's Council is one of
61 community-based resource and referral agencies (R&Rs) throughout
California.
SOURCE Providian Financial Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.providian.com
CONTACT:
Laurel K. Munson of Providian Financial
Corporation, +1-415-278-4770 or +1-415-716-2297
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