FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 29, 2008  
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290

First Lady Celebrates Women Entrepreneurs at Zonta Yellow Rose Celebration

JEFFERSON CITY - First Lady Melanie Blunt today celebrated women as entrepreneurs at the Zonta Club of Jefferson City’s Yellow Rose Luncheon held at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.  As honorary chair of the Zonta Club, Mrs. Blunt recognized Maxine Clark, founder and chairman of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and Jeanie Moore of Modern-Litho, recipient of the Mrs. William H. Weldon Lifetime Achievement Award.

"I am pleased to help the Zonta Club of Jefferson City honor Missouri women for their entrepreneurial achievements and for setting a tremendous example for the women leaders of tomorrow," Mrs. Blunt said.

In 1997 Maxine Clark founded Build-A-Bear Workshop, a teddy bear themed store focused on creating memories instead of simply making a purchase.  There are more than 300 Build-A-Bear stores worldwide, including some in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Susie Schaefer Hinds and Mary Doerhoff Winter received the Zonta Club’s 2008 Women of Achievement Award.  The nominees included:

• Millie Aulbur, Missouri Bar Association
• Debra Brunner, Linn State Technical College
• Charlotte Dudenhoeffer, Lewis and Clark Middle School
• Dottie Ewers, Dunklin Street Art Gallery
• Tina Hoey, Hawthorn Bank
• Roberta Licklider, Jefferson City High School
• Gabrielle Malfatti-Rachel, Lincoln University
• Carla McDaniel, Linn State Technical College
• Charlene Mitchell, professor-emeritus, Lincoln University
• Angela Pemberton, Immaculate Conception Catholic School
• Lyla Stark, RE/MAX
• Denise Tritz, St. Mary’s Health Center and Boyce and Bynum Pathology
• Beth Utrecht, Premier Bank
• Helen Vossen, St. Mary’s Health Center

All funds raised at the luncheon will be used to provide scholarships to local women.  The Zonta Club of Jefferson City has raised more than $100,000 in the last eight years.

Founded in 1919, Zonta international is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.  Zonta members volunteer their time, talents and money to local and international service projects as well as scholarship and award programs aimed at furthering women’s education, leadership, and youth development.

To celebrate Missouri women who are making history, Mrs. Blunt created the First Lady Awards honoring women in the five categories of Business and Innovation, Culture and Humanities, Education, Health and Wellness, and Volunteerism as part of Women’s History Month in March.

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