V-Day Announces its 10th Anniversary in New Orleans With Salma Hayek, Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Hudson, Joss Stone and More

(Vocus) December 5, 2007 -- V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2008 with women and men from the U.S. and throughout the world.

Founded by playwright Eve Ensler on February 14, 1998 at the first benefit of her award winning play The Vagina Monologues, the global non profit has raised over $50 million for local anti violence groups with events taking place in over 120 countries to date and thousands more planned during the upcoming anniversary year.

To celebrate the last ten years of ending violence against women and girls and welcome the next ten years, thousands of V-Day activists will stage their annual benefits beginning in January. V-Day?s 2008 season will culminate with V-Day?s mega two-day anniversary celebration in New Orleans Friday - Saturday, April 11-12 at the New Orleans Arena and Louisiana Superdome - V TO THE TENTH. V-Day?s anniversary events are made possible by the generous support of the NoVo Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. TBWA/Chiat/Day Los Angeles is creating a branding and messaging campaign pro bono for the anniversary.

Each year V-Day increases awareness by focusing on a specific group of women in the world who are resisting violence with courage and vision. In 2008, the spotlight is turned to New Orleans and the Gulf South. The spotlight will highlight the daily ongoing work of women in their communities who have steadfastly kept New Orleans and the Gulf South alive with little to no resources. These women - ?Katrina Warriors? - will be honored for their strength and resilience in the face of devastating loss. The spotlight will bring global attention and funds so that women may be safe and empowered in a region whose pulse beats like no other.

?V to the Tenth will celebrate our victories and usher in the next ten years where together we will raise the stakes, go further, go deeper, increase the power and CHANGE THE STORY OF WOMEN. What happened in New Orleans and the Gulf South after the flood and storm represents the challenges that women face worldwide- violence, global warming, racism, lack of healthcare and education, financial insecurity, and the failure of local and national governments. All these are pieces of the story of violence that continues to impact women in the United States and around the world. V to the Tenth is a celebration, it is the call, the decision, the next step,? stated V-Day Founder/Artistic Director Eve Ensler.

Two invitation only fundraisers are in the works - on the West Coast in January and a special NYC celebration on Valentine?s Day, February 14. Throughout February and March, thousands of V-Day benefits are scheduled throughout the U.S. and the world from Shenzhen, China to Stockholm, Sweden from Canberra, Australia to Lagos, Nigeria. To coincide with these events, Ensler will embark on a nationwide 20-city V To The Tenth speaking tour. In February, Random House will release the 10th anniversary edition of The Vagina Monologues and the paperback edition of Ensler?s most recent book, Insecure At Last.

These events will lead up to V TO THE TENTH, the V-Day event of the decade, on April 11 - 12, 2008 at the New Orleans Arena and Louisiana Superdome. On Saturday evening, April 12, V-Day will stage a once in a lifetime event featuring international performances of The Vagina Monologues, musical guests, V-Day activists from across the globe including Kenya, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, Democratic Republic of Congo and Eastern Europe, men standing up for women and much more. Calpernia Addams, Glenn Close, Rosario Dawson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Hudson, Ashley Judd, Julia Stiles, Marisa Tomei, Kerry Washington, Oprah Winfrey, and musicians Common, Eve, Charmaine Neville, and Joss Stone have already signed on.* The evening will open minds and hearts and raise much needed attention and funds for groups working to end violence against women and girls around the world, and in New Orleans and the Gulf South.

Tickets from $25-$1000 are on sale now. Visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B003F5EC8C97006?artistid=1172255&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

Over the weekend, Friday - Saturday, April 11 -12, the Superdome will be transformed into SUPERLOVE. Activities will strengthen the V-Day model of empowerment by linking art and activism; building bridges across class, nationality and racial divides; and providing a center of caring, learning and healing for the local community. During the two days V-Day will reclaim the dome, transforming it into a place of empowerment and action.

Special wellness programs are being planned for the women of the Gulf South throughout the two days. The space will also feature events and programming with international and local speakers (Carole Bebelle Rosario Dawson, Jane Fonda, Dr. Denis Mukwege, Suze Orman, NYC Council Speaker Chris Quinn, Rha Goddess, Kerry Washington and more*), spoken word and performances, art installations, and more. V-Day activists from around the world can meet at the Superdome to network and connect with each other, and the women of the Gulf South.

V-Day will announce the SUPERLOVE schedule in the coming weeks with tickets available online. Sign up for V-Mail at vday.org/vmail to receive information and program schedules for the Superdome, as well as the latest updates on V TO THE TENTH.

Over its ten years of art and activism, the V-Day movement has educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Iraq.

To download the event poster with the first TBWA/Chiat/Day design, visit www.vday.org/contents/v10/getinvolved.

About V-Day

V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler?s award winning play The Vagina Monologues. In 2007, more than 3000 V-Day events took place in the U.S. and around the world. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $50 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina. http://www.vday.org

*Pending scheduling

Contact:

Susan Celia Swan/Kate Fisher

(415) 814-3031, press(at)vday.org

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