**PRESS RELEASE** Women’s Academy of Excellence, a New Visions school, focus of Mary J. Blige's Appearance on Oprah

By: Keith Pierce, Director of Communications
April 13, 2010

Nine-time Grammy Award Winner Mary J. Blige will appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show today to discuss the work of her foundation, Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN), and its selection as a beneficiary of O, The Oprah Magazine’s “Live Your Best Life Walk” on Sunday, May 9, 2010.  The show airs at 4 p.m. EST on WABC-7 and will feature students from Women’s Academy of Excellence (WAE), a New Visions school and a central focus of FFAWN’s work in education.

Taping took place March 24 in the school auditorium, with many of the WAE students wearing black and white T-shirts from New Visions’ Good to Go college and career readiness campaign. The girls surrounded Blige, asked questions and spoke freely as if the Oprah film crew wasn’t there. Blige also handed out the first nine of 20 scholarships she plans to award the top-performing seniors at WAE.

“Mary has been a huge inspiration for our students, as well as for this community,” said Dr. Arnette Crocker, principal of WAE. “We have already seen a change in our students’ level of pride and desire to be the best they can be. As a result, we’ve seen improvements in both behavior and academic performance. I know I can give Mary some credit for that. Mary has changed many of these girls’ lives forever.”

The relationship between Blige and the Women’s Academy of Excellence began last fall when Blige was seeking a school to support through FFAWN. She learned about WAE through an acquaintance who happened to be a friend of the guidance counselor, Najah Small-Taylor. Blige was intrigued enough to do her own research on the all-girl public school in the Bronx and discovered its mission was aligned with that of FFAWN.

“Our mission is to empower and encourage women by shaping and supporting programs that foster education, career development, strong self-esteem and personal growth,” Blige said. “The work of the Women’s Academy of Excellence exemplifies what FFAWN is all about. These young ladies inspire me.”

Though FFAWN initially focused its efforts in Yonkers and surrounding Westchester County communities, the organization expects to expand its scope to include the New York City metropolitan area and, eventually, the entire country. WAE is the first public school in New York City to partner with FFAWN.

The walk with Oprah will be the culmination of a three-day event in New York City celebrating O’s 10th anniversary. Leading up to the walk, 6,000 invited guests will enjoy celebratory events including a Friday night welcome reception, Saturday LifeShops at Javits Convention Center and Saturday Evening with Oprah Winfrey at Radio City Music Hall. Thousands more will join Oprah in the walk on May 9.

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