FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dallas, Texas (October 17 , 2016) – Amy Poehler, the Emmy and Golden Globe winning performer, writer and producer, best known for her starring roles on Saturday Night Liveand Parks and Recreation, will be honored together with veteran producer Meredith Walker with the Digital Media Award for their organization, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, on Sunday, November 13 at the eighth annual Women That Soar Awards in Dallas, Texas, it was announced today by Gina Grant, founder and CEO of Women That Soar, LLC, the Dallas-based media and content development company which produces the prestigious awards show.
“Amy and Meredith have created an amazing online community that’s all about empowering girls and young women,” says Grant. “Their website provides an incredible variety of resources, information and inspiration aimed at helping girls grow into creative and empowered women who are their authentic selves. I really love the way Smart Girls encourages young women to put a higher priority on developing their intelligence and imagination instead of just fitting in.”
The Smart Girls website includes a variety of short form videos focusing on creativity, health, career guidance and several other topics. “Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls is a fantastic tool to help girls soar as their authentic selves. That’s why we felt it was important to recognize Amy and Meredith and the work they do through Smart Girls with this year’s WTS Digital Award,” Grant adds.
Amy Poehler is one of Hollywood’s most versatile and sought after talents, with credits including that of actress, writer, executive producer, and best-selling author. Poehler currently has a number of high-profile projects in the works as part of her extremely successful production company Paper Kite Productions. She serves as an executive producer on both Comedy Central’s Broad City and Hulu’s Difficult People—both of which were recently picked up for additional seasons—and has a development deal with Universal Television under the Paper Kite Productions umbrella.
Now based in Austin, Texas, Meredith Walker began her television career under the mentorship of legendary journalist Linda Ellerbee at Nick News. As a producer of that show, Walker traveled to nearly every state in the U.S.A. interviewing kids for the Peabody and Emmy award winning series. This experience would become the foundation of her deepening interest in the lives of young people. Walker then served as head of the Talent Department for Saturday Night Live, where she met Amy Poehler. The pair combined their talents to create their shared vision: Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls. Walker creates and produces Smart Girls online initiatives, and leads live workshops promoting the message of Smart Girls across the nation. Additionally, Meredith is a long time journalism envoy for the U.S. State Department Bureau of Culture and Education’s mission to the Al Za’atari and Emirates Refugee Camps in Jordon.
The Women That Soar Awards honors a diverse group of women from around the world for their personal and professional journeys to success. It is about each woman’s trial, tribulation and triumph. Hosted this year by Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier, celebrities scheduled to appear include comedian Heather McDonald, R&B artist Leela James, multi award winning R&B/pop group En Vogue and Grammy winning recording artist Wynonna Judd, who is also one of this year’s honorees.
Now in its eighth year, the Women That Soar Awards is the first and only televised awards show specifically showcasing the accomplishments of a diverse group of women from around the world. “The show is a platform for women to bond, share, tell their stories, celebrate their accomplishments and empower women of all ages. And, as Amy and Meredith’s Smart Girls organization exemplifies, you’re never too young to learn how to soar,” says Grant.
In addition to Wynonna Judd, honorees for the 2016 star-studded event include Fast Signs CEO Catherine Monson, celebrated author and illustrator Dr. Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Middle Eastern television personality Dr. Alruwaini Nashwa, entrepreneur Nina Vaca and more. Past honorees include former First Lady of Mexico Marta Fox, Her Royal Highness, Princess Reema Bandar of Saudi Arabia, Tina Knowles of the House of Deréon, Sacramento Kings Assistant Coach Nancy Lieberman, humanitarian Joann King Herring, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers, Former, Sanyo Electric CEO Tomoya Nonaka, Dallas Cowboys’ EVP and Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones Anderson, the late Ebby Holiday, real estate pioneer Guadalupe “Lupe” Valdez and many others.
The Women That Soar Awards will take place at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas Sunday, November 13, 2016. On December 11, the show will be televised in prime time in five major markets: Dallas, Houston, Miami, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Elaine Parrish, former Sr. EVP of Showtime, Sony, and The Game Show Network and Katy Murphy Davis, former senior supervising producer of the Oprah Winfrey Show, and creator of Oprah’s “Angel Network” serve as the Women That Soar Awards Executive Producers.
“We hope the public will join us as we recognize the great accomplishments of women, and embark on our continued journey or encouraging women of all ages to soar,” says Grant.
Please note: Meredith Walker will be accepting the Digital Media Award on behalf of her partner Amy Poehler.
For more information on purchasing tickets: https://squareup.com/store/women-that-soar