The 50-year friendship between suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton will be commemorated in an event hosted by the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership at the University of Rochester. The second annual “Celebrate the Power of Women’s Friendship” will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, at the Memorial Art Gallery.
Guests can enjoy wine, food, and entertainment by the Roger Eckers Jazz Quartet while hearing the announcement of the Center’s “Stanton/Anthony Stand by Me Award.” The award recognizes two women whose friendship, like Stanton and Anthony’s, has been inspirational and supportive in meeting new challenges and in furthering causes of equality and justice.
The event will also feature a silent auction for “Lunch with a Leader” and “Rent-a-Mentor.” Winning bidders will be able to take a friend or relative to lunch with a local female leader at one of Rochester’s best restaurants. The list of Rochester women leaders includes Rachel August, executive director of the Seneca Park Zoo Society; Barbara Blaisdell, who portrays Susan B. Anthony at local events and at the Susan B. Anthony House; Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks; Diane Creel, chair, president, and chief executive officer of Evocation, Inc.; Carol Wright Ritter, retired Democrat and Chronicle columnist; Ginny Ryan, news anchor at WHAM-TV Channel 13; Naomi Silver, chair and chief operating officer of Rochester Community Baseball, Inc.; Elaine Spaull, executive director of the Center for Youth Services; and Kitty Van Bortel, owner of Van Bortel Ford and Subaru. Individuals may also bid for dinner with a professional chef and two sets of two tickets to see Sarah McLachlan in concert at the Blue Cross Arena on Sunday, May 22.
The deadline for nominations for the “Stand By Me” award is Friday, May 6. Nominations of 200 words or less can be made in prose, poetry, or song and can be emailed to acwl@mail.rochester.edu.
Tickets for “Celebrate the Power of Women’s Friendship” are $50 per person and $80 for two people and should be reserved by Monday, May 9, by calling (585) 275-8799 or registering online at www.rochester.edu/SBA. The proceeds of this event support the programs of the Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership.