FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 13, 2004

San Diego County NOW Elects First African American President. Community Invited to March 24th Installation Ceremony and Celebration

San Diego, CA. Well-known educator and community activist Dr. Pat Washington has been elected president of the San Diego County Chapter of the National Organization for Women. Dr. Washington, who is also the Education Chair of the San Diego Branch NAACP, is the first African American chosen to head the San Diego NOW Chapter.

To mark this historic occasion, an installation ceremony and celebration will be held at the Bankers Hill home of prominent attorney Bruce M. Abrams, 3130 2nd Avenue, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, 2004. Participating with Dr. Washington in the installation ceremony will be fellow officers Lindsay Boyd, Cindy Marzolf, and Gloria Johnson, as well as newly elected officers of SDSUs student chapter of NOW.

To highlight the historic significance of this event, Aileen Hernandez will fly in to conduct the installation ceremony. Ms. Hernandez, current Chair of the California Womens Agenda, is the first African American national president of NOW (she succeeded Betty Friedan).

Members of the events Honorary Host Committee include City Council Members Toni Atkins, Charles Lewis, and Michael Zucchet; Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe; Senator Barbara Boxer; Congressman Bob Filner and Congresswoman Susan Davis.

Dr. Delores Jacobs and City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez will emcee the event, which will include special entertainment, hors doeuvres, and a host bar.

To RSVP, please call (619) 582-5383. A $50 per guest donation is recommended. Proceeds will go to San Diego County Chapter NOW.

For further information, please call (619) 692-1967