<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Women In Film and Media
Pittsburgh will host their third annual Opal Awards to be held on Monday,
October 12, 2009 at Point Park University Lawrence Hall located at 201 Wood
Street, Pittsburgh, PA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>15222.
This year’s awards ceremony will honor <span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#C00000"><b>Shirley
Jones, Liz Richards and Tonia Caruso.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Women In Film and Media of
Pittsburgh is dedicated to improving the status and portrayal of women in film,
video and other screen based media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>With an emphasis on education, we serve our members and the community by
providing access to opportunities in the industry and working with other
non-profits dedicated to helping women and children.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>We are passionate about our vision to empower, promote,
support, and mentor the community through a network of valuable programs,
contacts and events.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Opal Awards 2009 will honor Shirley Jones star of
stage and screen who is coming to Pittsburgh for a Heinz Hall performance. Ms.
Jones who was born in Smithton, PA and resided in Charleroi won an Oscar for
Best Supporting Actress for her role in Elmer Gantry.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>She began her career on Broadway in the chorus of South
Pacific and was offered the part of Laurie in “Oklahoma”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She starred in the television program
“The Partridge Family” and went on to garner roles in “Days of Our Lives”, “The
Drew Carey Show”, “Law and Order”, and hundreds of films and television
appearances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br>
<br>
Her singing career includes starring roles in “Oklahoma”, “The Music Man”,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Carousel” and countless television,
Broadway and stage performances.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Opals will also honor <span style="color:#C00000"><b>Liz Richards</b></span>, former Women In Film and
Media Board member and department head of the Digital Arts Department at Point
Park University; <span style="color:#C00000"><b>Tonia Caruso</b></span> of WQED
and Comcast Local Edition; and scholarship winners <span style="color:#C00000"><b>Cait
Murray</b></span> and <span style="color:#C00000"><b>Shannon Hager</b></span>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The VIP Reception begins at
5:30 pm and the patron reception at 7:00 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Tickets can be purchased by going to either the Women In
Film and Media website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><a href="http://www.wifmpit.com">www.wifmpit.com</a> or ProArts Tickets: </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT"><a href="http://www.proartstickets.org/"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:#2B5EB0;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">www.ProArtsTickets.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> or by calling Pro Arts Tickets at 412-394-3353.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; ">###<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">About Women In Film and Media</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1739 East Carson Street, #399</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pittsburgh, PA.
15203</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.wifmpit.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">www.wifmpit.com</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="mailto:info@wifmpit.com">info@wifmpit.com</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font class="Apple-style-span" size="6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Statement of Purpose</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Women In Film and Media of
Pittsburgh is dedicated to improving the status and portrayal of women in film,
video and other screen based media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>With an emphasis on education, we serve our members and the community by
providing access to opportunities in the industry and working with other
non-profits dedicated to helping women and children.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>We are passionate about our vision to empower, promote,
support, and mentor the community through a network of valuable programs,
contacts and events.</span></p>
<br>-- <br>Faith J. Dickinson<br>Founding President<br>412-973-9799<br>Women In Film and Media - Pittsburgh Chapter<br><br>