Cromwell, CT – HipPurse LLC and The Children’s Home (TCH) in Cromwell CT. are extremely pleased to announce members from their Women of Substance (WOS) Honorary and Founder’s Committee.   The WOS mission is to empower young girls to believe in their own self-worth, reject domestic abuse and become advocates for healthy mind, body and souls. 

The group would like to give special thanks to Miss Connecticut, Heidi Voight for sharing her vision with the Children’s Home.  In the spring of 2007, Miss Connecticut, Heidi Voight, spoke at the annual Spring Banquet at TCH.  She emphasized how young women need other women as role models and heroes for girls, instead of the media-made heroes like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, etc.  At the conclusion of her reign, Voight encouraged TCH to move forward with the notion, “Women of Substance.”  Soon after, TCH joined forces with the HipPurse Company; and presently their Women of Substance project is about to launch. A list of caring and influential community leaders will meet at the inaugural luncheon scheduled for May 22, 2008. These women will convene to discuss the issues relating to young female growth and development.

TCH Director of Development, Cindy Bartholomew explains, “We are so grateful that we have had the support and guidance of Barbara DeBaptiste.”  DeBaptiste is the Commissioner for the National Committee on the Status of Women, and the Founder of the Head Start program in CT. “With her extensive community involvement, advocacy background and excellence in leadership, she guided the committee in developing the mission statement and moving the project from concept to fruition.”

Kenya D’Agustino, HipPurse VP, shares, “I am overjoyed that these busy, successful women like the Governor and the Secretary of state, are willing to participate and share in our mission.”  In addition, when D’Agustino reached out to Natalie Morales from the Today Show, her response was ‘thank you for thinking of me on such an important cause.’  Natalie was one of the first to accept the role as an Honorary Committee Member. 

For more information on how to join this mission, please contact Kathy Smith Hallett, Director of Marketing at TCH, at 860.635.6010 x334 or Kenya D’Agustino, 877.234.3747 x704.