Before everybody hits the road for the holiday, the Genesis Women’s Shelter crew decided to provide a a conversation piece for Thanksgiving dinners. The 27th Annual Genesis Luncheon Chair Leigh Anne Haugh just sent word that on Friday, May 8, Academy Award-winning Nicole Kidman will be the keynote speaker at the Hilton Anatole.
Having started her career at the ripe old age of 16 in Australia, the multi-talented actress has performed in everything from dramas (“The Hours,” “The Others,” etc.) to musicals (“Moulin Rouge,” “Nine”).
But it was her performance in HBO’s “Big Little Lies” that not only garnered an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, a Critics Choice Award and a SAG Award, but also “opened audience’s eyes to the fact that domestic violence is a complex issue that can affect anyone.”
According to Genesis CEO Jan Langbein, “Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Celeste in ‘Big Little Lies’ shined a light on the secrecy and shame surrounding domestic violence – a monster that feeds in the dark and behind closed doors. Thanks to her realistic representation of the complexities surrounding domestic violence, we know that someone watched the show and realized that they may be in an abusive relationship. Now, we’re partnering together to take the next step and saying that there is help and there is hope at Genesis Women’s Shelter.”
But, Kidman’s concern about women’s issues is not limited to the small screen. As a child, she would often hand out pamphlets with her mother, who was a part of the Women’s Electoral Lobby in Australia. When Kidman was just 31, she was awarded Australia’s highest honor, the Companion in the Order of Australia.
Over the years she has served as “Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, UN Women, whose goals are to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality, to raise awareness of the infringement on women’s human rights around the world and to end violence against women.”
Since individual tickets won’t go on sale until April (if there are any available), sponsorship is very advisable now. Here are some ideas to consider:
- Get the group together and lock down that sponsorship now.
- Be the most popular Santa and give tickets to your favorite folks
- Since it’s the Friday before Mother’s Day, split a table with your friends to host all of your moms.
Working with Leigh Anne for the event will be Raffle Chair Nancy Gopez and Underwriting Chair Heather Bonfield with Susan Glassmoyer and Candace Winslow on board.
* Photo credit: Ruven Afanador/Corbis Outline