PRESS RELEASE: Womenetics to Award $22,000 to Students Focused on Global Women’s Issues

Monday, June 27 2011

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ellen Adair Wyche The Wyche Group (404) 233-4480 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it pdf file

ATLANTA, GA (June 27, 2011): Womenetics has joined forces with two global companies, Georgia-Pacific and Discover Financial Services, to offer the Advancing Aspirations Global Scholarships, totaling $22,000, for college students interested in international women’s issues. Each company will award one first place winner $5,000 and four second place winners $1,500. In addition, the top two winners will each receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the 11th Annual Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center in 2012. With this competition, Womenetics and its partners encourage undergraduates to research and ignite awareness about international issues. Georgia-Pacific winners will be recognized on September 30 in Atlanta and Discover winners will be recognized on November 10 in Chicago at the Womenetics Global Women’s Initiative conferences, where international thought leaders will confront challenges and opportunities surrounding the social, economic and political status of women. Deadline for entries is August 12/Atlanta and September 16/Chicago.

“Womenetics seeks to inspire students to be future leaders of global advancement by providing information and education on measures being taken to empower women,” says Elisabeth Marchant, president and CEO of Womenetics. “We created the Advancing Aspirations Global Scholarships program as a way to personally engage students around these critical issues.”

“Throughout the world, young people are driving change and bringing about new ways of thinking. Youth helped spark the Arab Spring revolution and young minds created some of today’s leading technological innovations.” Marchant continues, “Womenetics recognizes the power of young people and we’re dedicated to connecting students interested in the advancement of women with those in vital, impactful roles.”

"Georgia-Pacific believes supporting fresh and thoughtful ideas from young people creates new possibilities," says Georgia-Pacific SVP of Communications, Government and Public Affairs, Shelia Weidman. "These scholarships urge students to research women’s issues and advocate ideas that will improve the quality of life for all.”

“Discover strives to fund and aid innovative ideas that will benefit and impact people globally,” says Diane Offereins, EVP of Payment Services for Discover. “We believe the Advancing Aspirations Global Scholarship will encourage students to examine current economic, social, political and environmental issues that will improve generations to come.”

To enter, undergraduates must compose a 2,500-word essay discussing one of nine topics. An additional 200-word essay on how each student will use the award money is required. Finalists are invited to attend the symposiums and VIP receptions. Each student who enters the essay competition is invited to attend the symposiums at a discounted rate.

For information and essays visit Womenetics.com, or scan this QR code using an iPhone or Android phone.

http://www.itxt.ws/avnsts3

Womenetics is a business media platform providing substantive information for and about women. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Top 100 Websites for Women, Womenetics celebrates women in the workplace and focuses on them as leaders, exploring how women’s abilities can be effectively employed to impact critical challenges – the economy, politics, health, social issues and education. Womenetics inspires women to become engaged, control their destinies and take their place in business and the public realm. Through compelling content online, at events and within a web-based community, Womenetics cultivates relationships between its audience and foremost thought leaders around global issues, leadership development and business insights. For individuals and companies, Womenetics brings powerful ideas and lessons for change, and is today’s imperative for business success.

With more than 40,000 people at approximately 300 locations in North America, South America, and Europe, Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels, napkins, paper plates and cups, packaging, office papers, cellulose, wood panels, lumber, gypsum wallboard, and related chemicals. Its familiar brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, enMotion®,Sparkle®, Mardi Gras®, and Vanity Fair®, and the Dixie® brand of tabletop products. The company has long been among the nation’s leading manufacturers and suppliers to lumber and building materials dealers, and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. For more information, visit www.gp.com, www.facebook.com/georgiapacific or www.twitter.com/georgiapacific.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discoverfinancial.com.