Little Earth's Mary LaGarde is awarded the 2008 Individual Support & Leadership Award by The Ann Bancroft Foundation.

EXPLORE! The 4 Corners of the World
The Ann Bancroft Foundation DreamMaker Awards

The Ann Bancroft Foundation has named the winners of 2008 Dreammaker Awards. The DreamMaker Award recipients will be honored at the Foundation's annual gala, EXPLORE! The 4 Corners of the World, on May 1, 2008, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Depot in downtown Minneapolis, Minn.

The DreamMaker Awards acknowledge individuals and organizations that champion women's and girls' causes. Each year the Foundation reviews a list of outstanding nominees and shares the stories of four DreamMakers who inspire and dare to dream of endless possibilities for women and girls. The awards reflect Ann Bancroft's passion to help others live their dreams through risk taking, education and opportunity.

The 2008 DreamMaker Award recipients include Minna Zhou, Judge Renee Worke, Mary LaGarde and the Minnesota Women's Consortium. Each award recipient receives $1,000, an opportunity to share their story at the Annual Gala, and the respect and accolades of their peers. Past award winners have included prominent Minnesota women, such as: Amy Klobuchar, Dr. Verna Price, Winona LaDuke and Mee Moua, along with some very inspirational girls.

2008 Girl Achievement & Leadership Award - Minna Zhou
High school senior Minna Zhou's dream was to reunite adopted Chinese children with their culture. The dream became a reality during 2006, when she worked with 17 girls, ages 4-11, to help them discover their Chinese heritage. Activities included familiarizing themselves with the language, pronouncing their Chinese names, and even performing a native dance, to name a few. Immersed in active learning, the girls gained a sense of pride and ongoing interest in their native roots. Along with her program's success, Minna continued her support of girls by donating all of the extra funds to the Half the Sky Foundation, which offers nurturing care for China's orphaned children.

2008 Woman Achievement & Leadership Award - The Honorable Renee Worke
Judge Renee Worke has devoted her life to the mission of bringing justice to the world. Through her leadership and dedication as District Court Judge and Minnesota Court of Appeals Justice, Judge Worke has proved herself a tireless advocate in eliminating gender bias in the courts. In the community, Judge Worke shines as a Scout leader, a problem solving coach for Destination Imagination, and a frequent speaker and teacher. Her community recognized her with the Woman of Achievement Award in 2003 and, as a judge, she received the 2002 Rosalie E. Wahl Award of Judicial Excellence for her outstanding work in the area of children and families.

2008 Individual Support & Leadership Award - Mary LaGarde
Mary LaGarde has dedicated her career to serving women and children in the Little Earth American Indian community in South Minneapolis, Minn. In her most recent role as Vice President for the Little Earth Community Partnership, Mary has guided the renovation and opening of the Little Earth Neighborhood Early Learning Center and the Four Directions Family Center. She has assisted in developing a ten-year capacity-building and program development campaign for the Little Earth of United Tribes Community seeking to move families to home ownership and increase graduation rates.

As a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Mary has been an inspiring role model to many single mothers in the community. She continues to serve with peer professionals on both city and community boards, leading a number of educational initiatives.

2008 Organization Support & Leadership Award - The Minnesota Women's Consortium
The Minnesota Women's Consortium is an association of organizations and individuals committed to achieving full equality for girls and women by connecting interested parties who share this common goal. Serving as a resource center with shared space, skills, knowledge and information, the Consortium provides support and leadership to a diverse collection of 160 organizations, collectively representing more than 300,000 girls and women. About EXPLORE! The 4 Corners of the World Gala EXPLORE! The 4 Corners of the World is the Foundation's 11th annual gala and a fundraiser for its "Dare to Dream" Mini-Grant Program. Launched in 2001, it provides grants of $100-500 to girls ages 10 through the 10th grade who experience economic and life challenges. The Program has provided more than $210,000 to 570 Minnesota girls.

EXPLORE! offers an evening of socializing, shopping, world cuisine and music. Guests will enjoy an exciting, experience-based event through four themed corners where they will explore Paris, Tokyo, Mexico City and Cape Town. Attendees will stroll through a colorful flower market in Cape Town, pose with Japanese fashionistas, dine at a sidewalk bistro in Paris and celebrate at a Cinco de Mayo street festival in Mexico City.

About the Ann Bancroft Foundation The Ann Bancroft Foundation was created to promote initiatives that champion girls and women. The Foundation's mission exemplifies the spirit and achievements of polar explorer Ann Bancroft. Ann and the Foundation seek to inspire courage, risk taking, integrity and individuality in girls and women of all ages.

To learn more about the Foundation, the DreamMaker awards or the EXPLORE! The 4 Corners of the World gala, please visit. www.annbancroftfoundation.org