Contact: Bonnie Ayers, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: October 9, 2001

County Commission for Women’s
Executive Director Honored
By Business and Professional Women

Judith Vaughan-Prather, executive director of the Montgomery County Commission for Women, has been selected by the Montgomery County Business and Professional Women’s organization (MCBPW) as its Woman of the Year 2001.

The award recognizes a woman who has distinguished herself in her career or community. Among the criteria are: outstanding efforts to promote legislation to benefit women and/or families; outstanding guidance/mentoring to youth and/or young women; and assisting other women in achieving their goals. Ms. Vaughan-Prather has directed the operation of the local Commission for Women since her appointment in 1980 by then-County Executive Charles W. Gilchrist. Prior to her appointment, she was the program manager for A Woman’s Place --now called the Counseling and Career Center – operated by the commission.

Before coming to Montgomery County, she held supervisory positions with both the Single Parent Service, that provided counseling to young women in Prince George’s County and Baltimore City, and with the Emergency and Housing Unit of the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services.

Earlier this year she was selected for induction into the Montgomery County Human Relations Commission Hall of Fame and was honored with the On Her Shoulders We Stand award from the Montgomery College Women’s Studies Department. On November 2, 2001, she will receive the Alumnae Achievement Award from Montgomery College, as well.

“We’re proud to be able to honor Judy Vaughan-Prather’s numerous contributions to local women,” said MCBPW President Ruby Aridi. “Montgomery County’s Commission for Women is one of the strongest in the State, thanks in great part to Judy’s efforts. But,” Aridi added, “we’re also honoring her for a career spent helping women of all ages and backgrounds in so many ways.”

“I have been very fortunate to have been able to make a career in a field that is so meaningful. It is humbling, but also re-energizing, to be honored in this way,” Ms. Vaughan-Prather said. “The association between the Commission for Women and the Montgomery County Business and Professional Women has been long standing and important to the success of both our organizations. I especially appreciate the recognition of a group whose work I so admire.”

Ms. Vaughan-Prather will receive her award on October 16 at MCBPW’s monthly dinner meeting at the Doubletree Hotel, 1750 Rockville Pike, and also will be honored at the National Business Women’s Week celebration, sponsored by BPW/md, in Annapolis on October 20.

BPW, the oldest organization for working women in the country, provides networking opportunities, resources, career positioning, educational programs and visibility for women in the workplace.

For more information on Montgomery County BPW, call Ruby Aridi at 301-977-1671 or access the MCBPW web site at mcbpw.homestead.com/mcbpw.html.

For more information on the Montgomery County Commission for Women and the Counseling and Career Center, call 301-279-8301 or access the commission’s web site at www.co.mo.md.us/services/cfw.