WORKING MOTHER MEDIA HONORS DR. GEETA RAO GUPTA WITH LEGACY AWARD

New York, NY (July 28, 2006) Working Mother Media announced today that this year's prestigious Legacy Award went to Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta.  The Legacy Award is presented annually by Working Mother Media to an extraordinary individual for her inspiration, dedication, and significant contribution to multiculturalism and the support of women of color.  This year's $5,000 prize was donated by Sprint Nextel Corporation and presented by Anita Bajaj Newton, Vice President of Media for Sprint Nextel, at the Best Companies for Women of Color Multicultural Women's Conference in New York.  

As President of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), Rao Gupta advocates tirelessly for women and children in some of the world's poorest countries.  ICRW, a nonprofit organization with offices in Washington, D.C. and India, is dedicated to improving the lives of women in poverty, advancing equality and human rights, and contributing to broader economic and social well-being.

In her acceptance speech, Rao Gupta emphasized her connection to the past, present, and future, explaining how her family--and in particular her grandmothers and mother--inspired her current career path and continue to inform her understanding of the needs of women around the world.  

"To all the women who have inspired us and will continue to do so, I say, thank you. We hold ourselves accountable to you. We know that an investment in you is worthwhile because you deserve better. We also know that an investment in you is key to reducing poverty," said Rao Gupta.  "As long as gender inequality persists, societies will not be able to free themselves of extreme poverty, ill-health, illiteracy and devastating epidemics such as AIDS. Investing in women is not a political issue; it is an economic one and a deeply moral one."

Working Mother Media's CEO and founder Carol Evans presented Rao Gupta with the Legacy Quilt following her speech.  A symbol of connection and community among women, the quilt was crafted by Colorado artisan Jill Luigs, who extensively researched the humanitarian's life and history.  Luigs's design incorporates fabrics and motifs from Rao Gupta's native India, as well as quotations relating to her life work and philosophy.
 
"Geeta Rao Gupta is an inspiration to all of us," said Evans. "Her tireless commitment to making the world a better place for women and their children is in step with the highest goals of our company and our world.  We are proud to be able to honor her."

Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches nearly 2.2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.  Its 20-year signature initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America.  The publication also releases the annual list of the Best Companies for Women of Color in the June issue.  Working Mother is published by Working Mother Media (WMM), which also owns the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), NAFE Magazine, the annual 100 Best Companies WorkLife Congress, as well as the Best Companies for Women of Color Multicultural Conference and regional Town Halls. This year, WMM launches its Best Small Companies for Working Mothers initiative.

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a leading Washington, D.C.-based international research organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls in developing countries. Learn more about ICRW and its work at www.icrw.org.