Ladies Night
Inaugural Ball Honors Women's Accomplishments

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Bernadette Locke-Mattox, mid-speech

Last Tuesday night (February 12), Pacific Pearl was the place to be if you wanted to mix and mingle with the women who run Lexington, as Procter and Gamble presented their inaugural Women of Distinction awards to six prominent Lexington women, recognized for their professional, cultural, and civic achievements. The recipients were

nominated and selected by a committee of Lexington women, chaired by Betty Spain, owner of Bella Rose.

The keynote speaker for the event was Christine Fellingham, editor with O Magazine and former beauty editor of Harper's Bazaar.

"This award was created to celebrate exceptional women in Lexington," Terri Wearsch of Procter & Gamble said. "We chose women who consistently and effectively use their resources, talents, and influence to help other women achieve their full potential in the workforce, in relationships, and within themselves."

"It is an honor to present these impressive local women with the Women of Distinction recognition and to provide donations on their behalf to local Lexington charities who focus on women's needs and services," said Melanie Healey, Vice President and General Manager, Procter & Gamble.

"Through their varied accomplishments these women have enriched the Lexington community and encouraged women to exhibit confidence and strength in their everyday professional and personal endeavors."

The envelopes please.

Bernadette Mattox, in her seventh season as head coach for the women's University of Kentucky Wildcats, spoke movingly of her commitment to supporting and enriching the lives of the young women she coaches every day - and with great gratitude of the women role models who helped her - on her professional and civic path, particularly the strong women in her family.

Shelia Bayes (Selection Committee Member) presents Anita Britton her award.

As a top collegiate player, Mattox was both an all-American athlete and scholar. She set records that still stand at the University of Georgia for career goals and steals. After beginning her coaching career at Georgia, she became the first female Division I assistant 'bench' coach for the UK Wildcats under Rick Pitino in 1990, before taking over the women's program in 1995. In addition to her collegiate coaching, Mattox was one of three assistant coaches for the 1998 USA Women's World Championship Team as well as the 1998 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women's World Championships. She maintains a presence in international competition as a member of the USA Basketball Women's Select Team Committee. Mattox is involved with the American Heart Association, the Children's Miracle Network, and the UK hospital.

Anita Britton is a local attorney and first female partner at Lexington law firm, Stoll, Keenon & Park. She is currently a member of the firm's Litigation and Intellectual Property & Technology Departments and heads the Family Law practice. In her speech, she singled out her mother for distinction - speaking of her penchant for generosity, even when it was beyond her means - and how she taught her the value of getting things done, and enlisting the aid of others when the task is beyond you. Britton has served as Chair for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, and as Chair of the Family Law Section of the Kentucky Bar Association. She is on the Board of Directors for the Lexington Humane Society and Lexington Kiwanis.

Betty Spain, Chair of Selection Committee

Cindy Bohn was applauded for opening the local winery, Equus Run Vineyard. Her Merlot has won various awards nationwide. In her acceptance speech, she spoke of the value of perseverance (and with wry amusement of the first two times the banks laughed at her proposal to open a vineyard in Kentucky). She also spoke with pride of Kentucky's growing national recognition in the wine market. Equus Run, the largest vineyard in Kentucky and the only one to be owned and operated by a woman, has received the Tourism Business of the Year award for 2001 as well as winning eight medals - both local and international - for its wines.

UK's Lisa Higgins-Hord, in her second year as director of Community Relations for UK, co-chairs the local "Success by 6" initiative, tailored to community needs surrounding young children and their learning. Well known for her dedication to providing educational opportunities to students and young people across the state, she is also head of UK's "America's Promise" (recently founded by Attorney General Colin Powell) program and has received national recognition as a leader for her work in the Head Start program as well as many others. She is also a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee.

Additional women singled out for distinction were: Dr. Lori Atkins, who works closely with the local Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Race For the Cure, as well as Ohnmar Hart, local owner of New Editions Art Gallery and an art supporter.

Terri Wearsch, of Procter and Gamble, reports that on behalf of each Women of Distinction honoree, Tampax Pearl is making a sizable donation to Lexington-based charities.

The following charities were selected by each:

Center for Women, Children & Families: Ohmnar Hart and Bernadette Mattox

Success by Six: Lisa Higgins-Hord

Komen Race for the Cure: Anita Britton, Dr. Lori Atkins and Cynthia Bohn

The Women of Distinction recognition program was developed in conjunction with the test market of Tampax Pearl tampons in Lexington.