Press Room

For Immediate Release

SWAN logo Media Contact:
Name: Barbara Payne
Phone: 773.292.3294
Email: barbara.payne@swwan.org

            Single Working Women’s Affiliate Network (SWWAN) Launches National Holiday during the First Week of August

“Single Working Women’s Week” serves as recognition of the contributions and success of all single self-supporting women nationwide.

CHICAGO − June 18, 2007 − SWWAN (Single Working Women’s Affiliate Network), the voice for single self-supporting women all over the world, today announced the designation of a new national holiday, Single Working Women’s Week. Chase’s Calendar of Events , official calendar of holidays for the U.S., designated the first week of August each year to celebrate this holiday.

The opening celebration in Chicago will be held on July 31 at 6:30 pm at Radiance Fine Jewelry, 2139 N. Damen Ave.  The event is free and open to the public (RSVPs to info@swwan.org or 773.292.3294). “It’s time that we celebrate the courage and creativity of single working women,” said Barbara Payne, SWWAN founder and managing principal of ReallyGoodFreelanceWriter.com LLC. “It doesn’t matter whether a woman is single by choice, by chance—divorced, widowed, partnered, or whether she plans to get married one day. The point is to celebrate who we are and how we live right now.”

Statistics indicate that the numbers of single self-supporting females are growing rapidly in the U.S. and in other countries. The holiday encompasses single mothers—now 40% of all new births in the U.S. and most well beyond teenage—who face many of the same challenges as single working women. “It’s really about being the sole financial, emotional and physical support in the household—the one who gets every buck that stops. Single women deserve recognition and a chance to be appreciated for all they contribute to our society,” said Ms. Payne.

Special guest speaker will be Sharan Tash, professional keynote speaker and owner of www.TheProNetworker.com . Host Monica Davis, owner of Monica Davis Television www.monicadavis.tv and http://www.exceptionalmag.com/ , will introduce Ms. Tash.  National City Bank and Remarkable Woman Magazine are sponsors of the event.

National City Bank  is co-hosting the event with Remarkable Woman Magazine .  "National City is proud to support the work of SWWAN in promoting Single Working Women's Week," said Ms. Meghan Kearns [or your boss] "Single working women are an increasingly important part of our nation's social and economic networks."

The evening serves as the kick-off of the SWWAN vendor network campaign. Attendees and others are invited to share names of their favorite vendors—retailers, services, etc. As part of the network, vendors will provide discounts and special offers to all paid SWWAN members. Readers can nominate a vendor with free membership here: http://www.swwan.org/membership/free_member_form.htm .

Modeled on the AARP system for retired persons, single self-supporting women will be able to take advantage of the SWWAN network of discounted and extra services. “Single women are generally in one-income households, and unfortunately, the fact is that most women still earn 70% for every dollar men make,” said Perrine Knight, vice president of operations at Wextrust Capital and a SWWAN founding member. “It makes for an unbalanced system that this network seeks to alleviate in some measure.” Typical vendors will include retailers, drug stores, auto repair shops, dry cleaners, home services providers, and more.

At the celebration SWWAN will first make available the elegant custom-designed silver SWWAN jewelry line. “Our logo, the swan with outstretched wings, is a symbol of the pride SWWAN members can take in their success as single self-supporting women,” said Ms. Payne. “We’re introducing a special new design soon that represents the idea that you don’t stop being a creatively passionate individual no matter what your partner status.  It reflects in an elegant way the fact that love may come and go, or it can be forever—but you’re always a SWWAN.”

“We are very proud to support this event and to be one of the first members of the vendor network,” said Rebecca Gutermuth, owner of Radiance Fine Jewelry and designer of the SWWAN pin. Event attendees will receive free jewelry cleaning and inspection. Radiance offers a permanent discount for paid SWWAN members of 25% off jewelry repair and insurance appraisals. www.radiancefinejewelry.com

Everyone in attendance that evening receives free jewelry cleaning and inspection. Everyone who becomes a founding member of SWWAN reserves a copy of the signature swan lapel pin with their membership. All attendees who join that evening will receive special coupons.

 Single Working Women’s Week is an opportunity for friends or colleagues to support a single working woman. Ways to celebrate include  giving flowers or chocolate, and other recommendations include giving her a break: walk her dog, take out her garbage, wash her car or buy/fix her dinner. Readers are invited to submit their own ideas for how to celebrate the week at http://www.swwan.org/holidayidea/ 

About SWWAN: Founded in 2006, SWWAN’s mission is to enhance the quality of life and promote the good health of all single working women. It works to help single women find each other and connect, to offer members a vendor network with discounts and special services, and to create and feature inspiring jewelry and other signature products. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, SWWAN counts its members from across the United States, Finland, and around the world. Visit www.swwan.org for more information.

 

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