V-DAY CELEBRATES TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON VALENTINE’S DAY IN NYC

“V TO THE TENTH: NYC – KICKOFF TO NEW ORLEANS” AT THE HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM

WITH JANE FONDA, GLENN CLOSE, BROOKE SHIELDS, EVE ENSLER, KERRY WASHINGTON, AND MORE

V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls, celebrated its 10th anniversary in NYC at a star studded event at the Hammerstein Ballroom on February 14, 2008, exactly ten years after the very first V-Day benefit was held there. The event - V To The Tenth: NYC – Kickoff To New Orleans - has already raised over $600,000 (donations are still coming in) towards V-Day’s mission of ending violence against women and girls, and kicked off V-Day’s upcoming mega anniversary event - V TO THE TENTH, on April 11 - 12, 2008 at the New Orleans Arena and Louisiana Superdome.

V to the 10th: NYC – Kickoff To New Orleans featured performances by Jane Fonda, Glenn Close, Brooke Shields, Eve Ensler, Kerry Washington, producer David Stone (The Vagina Monologues, Wicked), New Orleans singer Troi Bechet. and more. Special guest Carole Bebelle from the Ashe Cultural Center in New Orleans, joined Co- Chairs Pat Mitchell and Jennifer Buffet, to kick off V-Day’s official 10 year anniversary with a look back at our victories and successes, and a re-commitment to the next ten years to end violence against women and girls.

During the evening, V-Day awards given to V-Day Board members Katherine McFate and Pat Mitchell, as well as Carole Bebelle from the Ashe Cultural Center in New Orleans and Susan Celia Swan, V-Day’s Managing Director - Communications and Development. Guests were treated to a New Orleans inspired tasting menu and desserts by guest chefs Megan Roen Forman from Sucre; Brittany Casciato, Pastry Chef, Cochon; Simone Fleming, Executive Pastry Chef, The Ritz Carlton and Christy Phebus, Pastry Chef, Bayona. During dessert, guests were invited into an art installation entitled " The V-Day Yurt" designed by acclaimed artist Lisa Anne Auerbach, structure designed by Stephanie Smith. According to the artist, The V-Day Yurt symbolizes “the vagina and the sacred feminine energy that is a force for change and revolution the world over.” Following dinner, the event turned into a post dinner dance party.

Founded by playwright Eve Ensler on February 14, 1998 at the first benefit of her award winning play The Vagina Monologues at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, the global non profit has raised over $50 million for local anti violence groups with events taking place in over 120 countries to date and thousands more planned during the upcoming anniversary year.

The event was supported by from the following companies and individuals: Bloomberg, Grey Goose Vodka, Melody Hobson, Newman's Own Foundation, Carole and Lisa Pittelman, and Linda Schejola.

About V-Day
V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play The Vagina Monologues. In 2008, more than 3500 V-Day events are taking place in the U.S. and around the world. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $50 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Democratie Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina. vday.org