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Mission: To strengthen and inspire leaders of the social sector and their partners in business and government.

Frances Hesselbein to Receive 2006 Miss Hall's Woman of Distinction Award, Columbia University's Teachers College Medal for Distinguished Service, and the Champion of Workplace Learning and Performance Award by the ASTD

April 6 , 2006: NEW YORK-- Frances Hesselbein, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute, will be presented the Woman of Distinction Award by Miss Hall's School on April 6, 2006 at Rockefeller University in New York City. This award is presented in recognition of her innovative work in the areas of leadership and management, efforts to promote social change and initiatives that benefit girls and women.

Hesselbein is the second recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award. Miss Hall's School presented the award last year to Shirley M. Tilghman, President of Princeton University. The award was,
"established in 2005 through a grant from the Ruth Miller Philanthropic Fund, is given annually to a woman who is nationally recognized for achievements in her field, as well as for her success in raising awareness of topics related to gender, and for her commitment to advancing the role of women in the world. Recipients are exemplary role models for aspiring young women and embody values in keeping with the Miss Hall's School mission of training girls to be committed, bold, accomplished, compassionate, and honorable. This award confirms the value of women using their voices to promote the common good."

In the letter announcing the award, Head of School Jeannie Norris wrote, "You have done important work in bringing attention to issues of diversity and inclusion, in your leadership of the Girls Scouts, and in raising the value of and standards for leadership in the nonprofit sector and beyond. In living your life with energy and commitment to purpose, you are an exemplary role model for girls."

Hesselbein has been named to receive the prestigious Champion of Workplace Learning and Performance Award by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). This award is presented in recognition of her "advocacy, commitment, and leadership in support of learning and performance in the workplace." The award was first presented in 1998 to Jack Welch of General Electric, and more recently to Thomas Stewart of Fortune; Robert Galvin of Motorola; John Chambers of Cisco; Fred Smith of FedEx; Steve Piersanti, founder of Berrett-Koehler Publishers; Alan Webber and Bill Taylor, founders of Fast Company magazine; and Danny Wegman of Wegmans Food Markets.

In the letter informing her of the award, ASTD wrote,
"Part of our mission is to spotlight leaders who are role models for others. It is truly fitting that you receive this award because you are a leading advocate for learning as the key to change and for creating inclusive organizations that care about all employees. You have been such a strong force for leadership and managerial development for the non-profit and government sectors that businesses are taking note and adopting your thinking."

Hesselbein will receive the award at ASTD's International Conference and Exposition, attended by over 8,000 people from 80 countries, on May 8, 2006 in Dallas, Texas. ASTD is the world's largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. ASTD's 70,000 members and associates come from more than 100 countries and thousands of organizations – multinational corporations, medium-sized and small businesses, government, academia, consulting firms, and product and service suppliers.

In addition to the two awards, Hesselbein will receive Columbia University's Teachers College Medal for Distinguished Service at their Masters Convocation on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at Riverside Church in New York City. Past recipients include David Levering Lewis, the Brown family of Topeka, Kansas, John Lewis, Coretta King, Desmond Tutu, Robert Coles, Fred Friendly, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins and Jerome Bruner. Arthur Levine, President of the Teachers College, Columbia University wrote that in an era that has repeatedly shaken the public's faith in some of,
"our nation's most trusted institutions, you have consistently focused organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors on maintaining greatness and helping America to sustain its democratic traditions. ...as the founder and guiding spirit of the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute, you have tapped major figures from all three areas.... Indeed, your institution's three-part "Future" series...have been translated into 16 languages, serving as the working bible of all who are charged with institutional stewardship on behalf of the greater public good."

Frances Hesselbein, a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was the Founding President of the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management and was CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA from 1976-1990. Hesselbein was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America's highest civilian honor, in 1998 by President Clinton. She is the author of "Hesselbein on Leadership," published in August of 2002. She is the co-editor of more than 20 books in 28 languages, and is Editor-In-chief of Leader to Leader journal.

Hesselbein will chair 125th Anniversary celebration of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley on Friday, April 7 in Bethlehem, PA. She will be delivering commencement speeches at St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, on Friday, May 13, 2006, and at University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN, on May 20, 2006.

About the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute

The Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute's mission is to strengthen the leadership of the social sector. Established in 1990 as the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management, the Institute furthers its mission by providing social sector leaders with the essential leadership wisdom, inspiration and resources to lead for innovation and to build vibrant social sector nonprofit organizations. It is this essential social sector, in collaboration with its partners in the private and public sectors, that changes lives and builds a vigorous society of healthy children, strong families, decent housing, good schools and work that dignifies, all embraced by the diverse, inclusive, cohesive community.