Erin Andrews to be keynote speaker at Central California Women's Conference

FRESNO, Calif. -- The Central California Women's Conference announced it's keynote speaker this year.

Dancing with the Stars co-host Erin Andrews will be taking to the podium at the fall conference. Andrews is well known for her sports reporting for ABC and ESPN, and is active in charity work to fight hunger and promote prostate cancer awareness.

The 28th Annual Central California Women's Conference will take place on September 22nd at the Convention Center in Downtown Fresno.

ABC30 is a proud sponsor of the event.

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PRESS RELEASE

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE TO CELEBRATE 28TH ANNIVERSARY ON SEPT. 22

Celebrity Keynote: Erin Andrews

Fresno, CA - A day of transformation is planned for women across the Valley at the 28th Annual Central California Women's Conference. CCWC is the largest women's event in the Valley and will be from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center.

The theme of this year's conference is Ignite Your Body and Spirit! Attendees will be encouraged to recharge their lives via their careers, relationships and, most importantly, themselves!

FOX Sports broadcaster and Dancing with the Stars co-host, Erin Andrews, is this year's keynote speaker. She joins more than two dozen other national and local speakers who will discuss important topics for women at the daylong event.

Andrews' keynote speech will chronicle her ascent into the male-dominated sports world. She will also share some of her experiences as first a contestant and now as co-host of Dancing with the Stars. After her dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Andrews became passionate about fighting prostate cancer via support of On the Line. Andrews will discuss her philanthropic work for On the Line and hunger relief.

Conference Board president, Nen Casares, says women throughout the Valley will be elated with the diversity and variety of topics covered by this year's speakers. But she says CCWC is much more than that. In keeping with the conference mission of empowerment, to date, more than $655,000 has been donated to support women's and children's community benefit organizations. "When Ken Maddy started this conference, he wanted all women to benefit. We are proud to continue that mission with our Community Celebration Reception on June 16, where we will honor 40 organizations that serve women and children. We will be awarding these nonprofits $60,000 to help in the great work they do."

Women of all ages, ethnicities and economic backgrounds attend the annual event.

The morning Warm-Up Session kicks off the conference by honoring 20 under-served young women who will receive the Wells Fargo/Central California Women's Conference College and Career Preparation Scholarships. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of need, promise and the students' commitment to create positive change. The founder of Happy People Win, motivational speaker Jean Steel, will then take the stage as the 28th annual event begins.

Attendees choose three breakout sessions to attend throughout the day from 24 options. Topics include business and entrepreneurship, health and fitness, money and finance, family and parenting, spirituality and courage, service and activism, and strength and change. "Our breakout session line-up is amazingly strong," said Jan Edwards, director of marketing and development for CCWC. "We work all year to identify the best national and local talent who can educate, transform and enlighten our attendees in an entertaining way."

The keynote luncheon will be held in the New Exhibit Hall with Erin Andrews speaking.

Attendees also have the opportunity to visit the conference Marketplace and Community Corner where more than 175 businesses and non-profits share information about their products and services. Visitors will be treated to samples, gourmet tastings, information and shopping.

The day winds down with the Cool-Down Session where women enter to win prizes, kick off their shoes and relax. This year's Cool-Down speaker Monica Piper, is an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer, stand-up comic and motivational speaker. Monica has written for the sitcoms, "Roseanne", "Mad About You" and "Veronica's Closet", and was the head writer of the #1 children's animated series "Rugrats."

This year's event is expected to be another early sellout. Admission includes continental breakfast, all seminars, the celebrity keynote speaker luncheon and the afternoon reception. Tickets are limited to the first 3,500 attendees. Early registration is encouraged. Tickets are now on sale at www.CCWC-Fresno.org for $100 each until June 30, and $110 each beginning July 1.

The conference is made possible through the support of national and Central Valley businesses. The presenting sponsor is Wells Fargo. The keynote speaker sponsor is Community Medical Centers. Founding sponsors are The Fresno Bee and ABC30. Major sponsors include Granville Homes, Saint Agnes Medical Center, Valley Children's Hospital, Pelco by Schneider Electric, Macy's, Bank of the West, Fresno State, AT&T, Cumulus Broadcasting, The Brownie Baker Inc., Pepsi Beverages Company, Univision Radio, Digital Attic and City Press. "CCWC would not be possible without the support of these incredible partners who step up year in and year out to make this day of inspiration a reality," said Edwards. "We thank them for their commitment to improving the lives of all women."

Sponsorships and exhibit booths are still available. For sponsorship information contact Edwards jan@ccwc-fresno.org; for exhibit booth information contact Mary Stabelfeld at mary@ccwc-fresno.org .

More information about the conference and speakers is available at www.CCWC-Fresno.org.