Carlina Hansen Named Young Executive Director of the Year

SAN FRANCISCO - In recognition of her innovative leadership and commitment to social justice, Carlina Hansen, the Executive Director of the Women's Community Clinic, has been named the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network's (YNPN) Young Executive Director of the Year for 2007.

Under Carlina's leadership, the Women's Community Clinic has dramatically expanded its capacity to improve the health and well-being of women and girls in San Francisco. During her seven-year tenure as Executive Director, the Clinic has grown from a budget of $150,000 and one staff person to a budget of $1 million with 14 staff and more than a hundred active volunteers.

Carlina inspires the Clinic to continually look for new and better ways to provide women with free health care in a fun, safe and respectful environment. Her vision for a volunteer-based, women-run business model uniquely positions the Clinic to identify and respond effectively to the needs of the community. This innovative model provides high-quality care while training the next generation of women health leaders. Over the years, she has fostered a philosophy of care which expands beyond the Clinic walls to provide outreach services and health education to incarcerated, homeless and marginally housed women.

"I am amazed at how Carlina uses her many strengths to balance the every day needs of the Clinic with the broader social justice goals of the organization," said Diana Taylor, a Women's Community Clinic Board Member. "Carlina has raised the bar for nonprofit leadership by successfully combining her innovative vision and creativity with sound financial and organizational management. As an executive director, manager and mentor, Carlina creates an environment that inspires all of those around her to deliver the highest quality of care."

This Thursday, October 18, Carlina will be honored at YNPN's 10th Anniversary Party and Awards Ceremony. This special event celebrates the outstanding contributions of the young and young-at-heart non-profiteers who give of themselves throughout their career.

Kathleen Kelly (Spark) and Mara Chavez (Centro Legal de la Raza) will also be recognized as Young Board Member of the Year and Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year, respectively.

WHAT: YNPN 10th Anniversary Party and Awards Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday, October 18, 2007, 6:00-9:00pm
WHERE: Mr. Smith's, 34 - 7th Street, San Francisco, Ca
TO ATTEND: Click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/ytb4so

About the Women's Community Clinic

The mission of the Women's Community Clinic is to improve the health and well-being of all women. We provide free health care and outreach services for women by women in a safe, respectful environment. Our mission is anchored in two core beliefs: that preventative, educational care is essential to lifelong health and that all women deserve excellent care regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, visit: womenscommunityclinic.org.

About YNPN

The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) promotes an efficient, viable, and inclusive nonprofit sector that supports the growth, learning, and development of young professionals. We engage and support future nonprofit and community leaders through professional development, networking and social opportunities designed for young people involved in the Bay Area's nonprofit community. For more information, please visit: www.ynpn.org/sfba.