Women Leaders Forum of the Coachella Valley announces its 8th Annual Women Who Rule Awards Luncheon and Scholarship Fundraiser on Friday, January 24, at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage. The highly anticipated event will honor the Coachella Valley’s most inspiring achievers, while benefiting the Women Leaders Forum’s Young Women Leaders (YWL) program.

Women Leaders Forum President Jennifer Jank explains, “Our Women Who Rule luncheon is our organization’s biggest event of the year. In addition to honoring remarkable local women, the proceeds support our Young Women Leaders program. With support from our members, sponsors and the community, we’re able to provide scholarships to high school seniors who successfully complete our leadership program.” The esteemed 2020 honorees include: Jan Hawkins, director of development at The Living Desert who will receive the Helene Galen Excellence in Education Award; Deborah Tryon, financial advisor, Morgan Stanley receiving the WLF Trailblazer Award; Ann Sheffer, chair of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission honored with the Mary T. Roche Community Leadership Award; and Linda Evans, Mayor of La Quinta and chief strategy officer, Desert Care Network, who will receive the WLF Visionary Award.

Guests in attendance will enjoy a champagne reception and silent auction at the luncheon event taking place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. along with the opportunity to meet the extraordinary students in the YWL program. Guest ticket pricing is $90 and $900 for a table of 10. Early event sponsors include Presenting Sponsor Desert Care Network, Desert Health^® and Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa.

Proceeds benefit the Women Leaders Forum’s Young Women Leaders program, sponsored by UCR Palm Desert Center with partner OneFuture generously matching all need-based scholarship funds raised. Sponsorships remain available starting at $500. Prospective sponsors can contact President Jennifer Jank at [email protected].

The Women Leaders Forum has a long and successful history of supporting local students with workshops, mentoring and scholarships through YWL. This innovative outreach program provides leadership training and one-to-one professional mentoring for female high school students throughout the Coachella Valley. The goal of YWL is to guide these young women into roles of leadership and success as they prepare for college, business and life. Seniors who successfully complete the educational, community outreach and mentoring are eligible for either a need- or merit-based scholarship. Since its inception, Women Leaders Forum has raised $685,000 for scholarships.

For information and tickets, visit www.wlfdesert.org or call (760) 837.7222.