Past Galas

Previous Defining Moments Galas

September 23, 2008
Capitale, New York City

Honoree Kim Azzarelli of Avon Products, Inc.

The Defining Moments Annual Gala & Auction is the Women's Venture Fund's premier fundraising event. This fun, yet sophisticated occasion attracts some of the most distinguished business and professional leaders in the country.

Honoree Leslie Leventman

of MTV Networks

The Women’s Venture Fund invites gala honorees to share the defining moments in their lives—stories of their personal journeys— the people, places and events that helped to shape them and achieve success. WVF and it's Board of Directors are pleased to honor Kim Azzarelli, Vice President Legal & Public Affairs and Corporate Secretary of Avon Products, Inc. and Leslie Leventman, Executive Vice President of Creative Services, Special Events and Convention Planning at MTV Networks.

Our generous corporate sponsors including Avon, Cartier, DirecTV, Goldman Sachs, Latham & Watkins, Macy's, MetLife, MTV, NASDAQ, Nielsen, NYSE and UBS make it possible for us to showcase the work of our clients at this dynamic and cross-industry celebration of women entrepreneurs.

Cashmere Mafia star Bonnie Somerville will host this year's event.

Bonnie Somerville from the TV Series, "Cashmere Mafia," and currently starring in the upcoming films, "The Ugly Truth" with Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler and "Labor Pains" with Lindsey Lohan, will be this year's program host. The keynote speaker will be Tamara Jacobs, CEO of Tamara Jacobs Communications, Inc. Additionally, WVF will be featured in Shape Magazine and the team from CNBC's "Fast Money" will be the auctioneers.

Tamara Jacobs, keynote speaker

The Gala is also an opportunity to highlight the many ways our year-round work makes a meaningful difference in the lives of minority and women business owners. This is an occasion not to be missed– a night of glamour, entertainment and even a bit of competition, as gala attendees vie for auction items.

This year, we've already secured fabulous items including a Miley Cyrus autographed toy guitar, 2009 Yankees-Red Sox tickets, a six month membership to Reebok Sports Club, VIP tickets to the Today Show's Toyota Concert Series, Cartier accessories and a weekend at a luxury home in the Hamptons!