Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

AWEE TO RECOGNIZE REMARKABLE SUCCESSES OF INDIVIDUALS OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AT 2018 FACES OF SUCCESS GALA, FEB. 9

Inaugural Barbara Barrett AWEE Icon Award to be Presented to Namesake

            PHOENIX, Ariz. (Jan. 22, 2018):  Four Valley residents who have overcome personal and financial barriers to create new, improved and successful lives through programs and services at Arizona Women’s Education & Employment (AWEE) will be recognized for their achievements at the Faces of Success Gala on Friday, Feb. 9 at the PERA Club, 1. East Continental Drive in Tempe.

            The four honorees’ individual stories range from:

• Overcoming a meth addiction and seven-year prison term to become assistant director at a Valley supermarket, managing more than 200 employees to 
• A young woman entrepreneur who quietly but successfully entered the male-dominated male footwear design business to 
• A Moldavian native who came to the U.S. looking for opportunities and is on a career-path in the financial industry to 
• A woman who lost her job and her home when she had to take a week off to care for her sick child and is now working full-time in her dream career in the legal field.

            AWEE’s signature fund-raising Faces of Success Gala, which is transitioning from a luncheon to an evening affair, also will honor Ambassador Barbara Barrett as the inaugural recipient of the Barbara Barrett AWEE Icon Award, which will be presented annually to an individual who has shown the courage, strength and character to move beyond challenges to make an impact on the world around them.  

Ambassador Barrett, who is the event’s Honorary Co-Chair, overcome her own considerable roadblocks to establish herself among the country’s most-respected and successful women, entrepreneurs, dignitaries and human beings.       

The event begins at 6 p.m. with a reception and silent auction. The program, awards, live auction and entertainment start at 7 p.m.  Former 12 News Reporter Kim Covington, now with the Arizona Community Foundation, will emcee.

Individual tickets are $350.  Table sponsorships start at $3,500.  Reservations can be made at www.awee.org/faces-of-success.  For more information, call Jaclyn Boyes at (480) 710-4437 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .