BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES PRESENTS ACCESSORIES FOR SUCCESS SPRING LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW HONORING NICOLE LOREY AND KATE NICHOLS

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 7, 2015) — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles (BBBSLA) presents its annual Accessories for Success Spring Luncheon & Fashion Show, Friday, April 17, 2015 at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Afternoon will honor Nicole Lorey, VP and Chief Communications Officer, Transamerica Brokerage with the “Innovator Award” and Kate Nichols, Digital Marketing Producer, CBS Marketing with the “Rising Star Award.” Actress and fashion icon Amber Valletta hosts. Laura Lizer, BBBSLA Board Chair; NJ Goldston; Nancy Taylor; Nina Shaw; Sharon Harroun Pierce and Sandra Stern are Honorary Co-Chairs.

Prior to the luncheon, luxury accessories boutique vendors will feature fashionable accessories for purchase with a portion of proceeds from sales donated to BBBSLA. Featured are: Art Couture, Moonlite, Borrowed Bling, Classy Bag Lady, Jacqueline B., Treasured Accessory, Dawn Michelle Designs, Chic By Design, Kiki Bean & Bedhead, Over The Top, Susie O’s, Muki Bolton, Accessor Eyes, Shelly’s Fashions, Jodi Jackson Jewelry, Two Gems and Roberto Mantellassi.

In a unique twist to this year’s fashion show, “Bigs” and “Littles” will participate in the fashion show in partnership with Goodwill Southern California. Each “Big” and “Little” will have selected his or her outfit and accessories from a Goodwill store, with a maximum budget of $30 each. This aspect also aligns with an education initiative by Goodwill pegged at developing self-sufficiency in youth and the importance of shopping within a budget. Marking their 60th anniversary this year, BBBSLA recently joined forces with Goodwill Southern California (GSC), establishing their new offices at the Goodwill Community Enrichment Center at Fletcher Square in Los Angeles. Co-locating with Goodwill affords BBBSLA and their families a host of benefits including workforce development, career training and placement programming.

“This year’s honorees are women of accomplishment not only in the board room, but in the all important world of philanthropy, “said Tiffany Siart, President and Chief Executive Officer of BBBSLA. “Each is a role model for our young women and both are dedicated to supporting our efforts to create brighter futures through life-changing mentoring relationships to all children who need and want them.”

As Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Transamerica Life Insurance Company (TLIC), an AEGON company and Transamerica Brokerage, a marketing unit for TLIC and its affiliates, “Innovator Award” honoree Nicole Lorey is responsible for all internal and external communications, meetings and special events, philanthropy and organizational development. Joining Transamerica in 2000 as Director, Corporate Communications, she was elected Assistant VP, Communications & Organizational Development in 2007, before being named Vice President in 2011. Previously, Lorey worked in Public Affairs and Communications for Kaiser Permanente as well as stints with Read Communications and Cynthia Michael Public Relations. An active member of the BBBSLA Board of Directors, she spearheaded a BBBSLA program at 20th Street Elementary School in South LA, providing students with activities, mentors and school supplies each year. Elise Buik, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, will make the presentation to Lorey.

“Rising Star Award” honoree Kate Nichols, Digital Marketing producer with CBS Marketing for the past three years, began her career in television as a production assistant with E! Entertainment before joining OWN, Oprah Winfrey’s cable network, as a producer with their on-air marketing department. Originally from Marietta, GA, Nichols’ move to Los Angeles prompted a desire to give back to her new community. Her commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters was born of the many powerful testimonials she heard from “Bigs” and “Littles,” eventually becoming a Big Sister to Cambria, (17) who will present the award. Nichols involvement with the organization grew as she became a member of their Junior Board, serving as Vice Chair for the past two years. She will soon take on the role of Chair. Her enthusiasm for BBBSLA has carried over into her workplace, where she helped establish a mentoring program at CBS which will continue through 2016.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles

In Los Angeles County, one in five children is living below the federal poverty line and one in three children is living in a single-parent household. These children are faced with overwhelming challenges that often derail their futures. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES changes children’s lives (our Littles) for the better, forever, through professionally supported one-on-one mentoring relationships in the community-at-large, at schools and at corporate sites. Mentorship by caring adults (our Bigs) has proven effective in significantly increasing academic performance and self-esteem while decreasing risky behaviors. Founded by Walt Disney and Meredith Willson in 1955, they are a leading non-profit in the Los Angeles community. To learn more, visit www.BBBSLA.org, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bbbsla, Facebook at www.facebook.com/bbbsla and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bbbsla.

Table packages begin at $3000; individual tickets, $300. For information, please contact Sarah Bennett at (213) 213-2410.

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Contact: Pam Giangregorio

Katy Sweet & Associates Public Relations

(310) 479-2333 /Pam@KatySweetPR.com