Thu Jun 27 12:17:00 UTC 2002
South Africans have come out in full force to make nominations in the Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year Award 2002. A record number of entries were submitted this year, signifying that the country has embraced this Award as the ultimate accolade for women achievers.
According to Shoprite marketing director, Brian Weyers, the success can be attributed to the fact that the Award has grown remarkably in stature since its inception seven years ago.
“The high number of nominations received shows that South Africans have embraced the Award and that it has become the favourite and most prestigious woman’s award in the country,” said Weyers.
According to Weyers, the extensive lobbying campaign launched at the beginning of February each year has also contributed to the Award’s growing success.
“The lobbying campaign ensures that people from everywhere, even in the remotest areas of our country, are exposed to the Award. The organisers receive nominations from all over South Africa and from across the spectrum – from government ministers to council workers,” says Weyers.
“We are very excited about the high standard of nominations submitted. Each year just seems to be more exciting than the previous one and each year we are amazed to discover that there are so many other exceptional women working hard to make our society a better place for all,” he added.
The Award has grown phenomenally since its inception as a major initiative for National Women’s Day in 1996. Its aim is to honour and pay tribute to women who have not only achieved in their own right, but have also reached out to others, helping and inspiring them to do the same.
The judging process is now in full swing and the finalists in the seven Award categories - Arts & Culture, Business, Sport, Media & Communications, Education, Health, Community Affairs - will be named on Thursday, 4 July 2002.
The overall winner and category winners will be announced to the nation at a spectacular gala event held in the Mother City which will be screened on SABC3 on National Women’s Day (Friday, 9 August 2002), at 19h00.