Yet more than having a big birthday and marking another one for the books, The Dinah 2015 cemented its place in the annals of LGBT history.

The vision that Mariah Hanson imagined a quarter century ago far surpassed her expectations. For little did she know that her Dinah would become her enduring legacy to both the city of Palm Springs and the entire LGBT community.

Today The Dinah stands tall and proud as not just the biggest lesbian event in the planet of its kind, but as well as the world’s single most successful lesbian music and entertainment mega-event.

This is why thousands of women from all over the world gathered in Palm Springs over this Easter weekend to come celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the iconic Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend.

And celebrate, they did! The Dinah 2015 was beyond epic and undoubtedly filled with memorable events and magical moments all dedicated to honor the real Dinah … Mariah.

Pop superstar Meghan Trainor who headlined the Black Party on Saturday was certainly not just all about The Dinah but very much all about that Mariah, too.

“She is the reason you are all here having the time of your life,” declared Trainor as she graciously invited Hanson to join her on stage to crown her queen in front of a screaming sold-out crowd. Lips were moving, booties were shaking and fingers were snapping pictures away as the pop sensation took a selfie before shimmying on stage with the newly appointed royal.

The symbolic crowning came on the heels of a series of recognition prizes and awards by city officials and LGBT organizations for her commitment to her craft – including the prestigious Legacy Award bestowed upon her by the NCLR along side Lilly Tomlin a short few hours before Trainor’s homage.

Continuing to cement its reputation as an industry star-maker, this year’s Dinah delivered a mind-blowing slate of performers.

From award-winning Christina Perri to cutting-edge artists Bebe Rexha, Olivia Sommerlyn, Holy Child; to old-school disco icons Crystal Waters and Royce Rose, these series of high-energy concerts were all phenomenally spectacular leaving Dinah audiences in complete awe.

Once again Hanson raised her own bar with a stellar lineup that included a few awesome surprises among which was new “it” girl Ivy Levan.

The latest in a series of big names to perform at The Dinah, Ivy Levan not only drew massive crowds but also enjoyed her Dinah experience so much that, like rap artist Eve last year, she joined the crowd on the dance floor after her electrifying show.

There is indeed something liberating about the Dinah that is extremely infectious and contagious and rises up from the crowd to the performers onstage who just can get enough.

“I’m having so much fun with you guys,” exclaimed Meghan Trainor, “Love who you love and forget the rest.”

Sure, The Dinah is known for its monumental pool parties, stunning women, hottest DJs & Dancers, not to mention celebrity sightings and terrific concerts by international Top 10 Billboard hitmakers. But there’s more to the event than meets the eyes. The real gem to be found at the Dinah are the customers who travel from all over the world to take over Palm Springs and impart a sense of belonging, and complete normalcy.

The Dinah is a freeing and life changing experience for all these lesbians.

It is difficult for some of us to fathom the idea that our lifestyle is not the same for a majority of others, but rather the exception. But once a year The Dinah makes that dream come true.

“It’s a beautiful thing when members of a minority suddenly are not in the minority anymore,” wrote Lane Moore for Cosmo.com after attending this year her first Dinah ever.

What the Dinah truly offers is a glimpse of how perfect the world would be if we could all be free to be who we truly are!

All in all, the 25th Anniversary of Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend will be remembered as the most phenomenal Dinah to date.

We all came out of it profoundly moved, deeply touched, completely transformed and empowered

We can hear Christina Perri’s “Burning Gold” lyrics echoing in all of our hearts:

“I’ve had enough, I’m standing up, I need, I need a change.”

Is it Dinah 2016 yet?

“I’ve had enough, I’m standing up, I need, I need a change.”

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Palm Springs, CA — Pop music’s new “it” girls, Bebe Rexha and Ivy Levan have been added to the 2015 Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend blockbuster entertainment line up.

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, The Dinah is once again showcasing the hitmakers of tomorrow. Earlier this month, pop sensation Meghan Trainor was announced as one of the headliners for the upcoming event, which runs April 1-5 in Palm Springs and coincides with the Coachella Valley’s annual LPGA event.

The event also includes pool parties, a comedy show, a film festival and a slew of other activities. Ivy Levan will take center stage at the Dinah’s White Party on Friday, April 3, while Bebe Rexha will be performing at “Black Party” on Saturday, April 4, both held at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs.

As a MUST-DO venue that has proven to be the catalyst for propelling new young artists to superstar status, The Dinah was a logical choice for Bebe Rexha and Ivy Levan who are poised to reach household name status and conquer a global audience in the New Year.

One of the fastest rising artists to keep your eyes on in 2015, Bebe Rexha has been racing up the charts with her 2014 debut single, “I Can’t Stop Drinking About You.” The song is currently at US Top 40 radio, with over 125,000 singles sold to date and counting, and approaching 10 million streams on Spotify.

The pop sensation is now working on her debut album to be released in the Summer of 2015, and readying to release her second single “I’m Gonna Show You Crazy” in January 2015.

“Bebe Rexha is a girl on fire and we are so excited she is going to burn it up at The Dinah. She’s slated to have a big year in 2015 and we’ll have the opportunity to see her before she takes off, “ says Mariah Hanson, founder & producer of The Dinah. “Not just a huge talent, she’s also a blazing beauty so us Dinah girls get a double whammy this year. I’m looking forward to her CD early next year and can’t wait to watch it ignite and take off.”

The Brooklyn native made a name for herself most famously penning the Eminem and Rihanna No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “The Monster” and performing vocals on Cash Cash’s 2014 US-certified massive club smash “Take Me Home”, which she also co-wrote. She fronted Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz’s side project “Black Cards” before embarking on a solo career.

Billboard Magazine named the gifted young singer-songwriter “an Artist That Will Help Define 2014″ — a title she shares with another buzz-heavy breakthrough artist: Sam Smith. Make no mistake, 2015 will be the year Bebe Rexha will be storming the charts and selling out arenas.

The same is true of singer-songwriter and Cherrytree Records recording artist Ivy Levan. Raised in Bentonville, Arkansas, Ivy displayed an affinity for singing and performing from a very young age. Ivy’s mother filled the house with an enormous variety of music: R&B, Soul, Dance, Big Band and Rock ‘n’ Roll and as she grew up, she began to widely expand her musical palette ranging from Whitney Houston to Depeche Mode, Etta James to The Misfits.

While there were no musical boundaries at home, Ivy was most drawn towards music by extraordinary vocalists, hard-driving rock bands and heavy, urban beats which culminate in her own distinct version of swagger with a unique sound built around powerful, sultry vocals full of grit and venom.

“Ivy Levan. Wow, what a force. She is so mesmerizing and sultry! I love her music and her raw intensity. She brings serious girl power to The Dinah and that’s what we’re all about. I have no doubt she is going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2015 and we get a sneak peak in April. I personally can’t wait,” said Mariah Hanson.

Levan’s debut EP titled “Introducing the Dame,” sparked buzz from Access Hollywood, Billboard, Allure, CBS News, Glamour, Perez Hilton, Huffington Post and more.

Billboard said, “(Ivy Levan is) an entrancing pop singer with uninhibited soul-infused stylings,” while Glamour deems Levan “the next big thing…toe tapping rhythms and sultry vocals,” and Huffington Post praises Ivy’s “vocal virtuosity.” Performances include the Carnegie Hall stage in support of the Rainforest Fund Benefit, “The Late Show with David Letterman” with Sting and many more.

Ivy has already hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Next Big Sound Chart, won two consecutive MTVU’s “The Freshman” and her music has over 2 million YouTube/VEVO views. Earlier this month, Ivy debuted the lyric video for “The Dame Says” — the track which she co-wrote is a taste of what’s to come in anticipation of the release of her brand new single “Biscuit” out January 13 on Cherrytree Records/Interscope. Levan will release her debut album this Spring 2015.

Don’t miss the chance to see pop music’s next big thing at The Dinah.

The post Dinah’s next big stars: Bebe Rexha and Ivy Levan first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Palm Springs, California #151; The legendary Dinah Shore Weekend, founded and produced by Mariah Hanson under her Club Skirts marquee, has officially commenced the six-months long celebration of its Silver Anniversary.

April 1-5, 2015, Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend is turning twenty-five and taking the event to a new zenith.

Twenty-five years of excellence and unwavering commitment to deliver world-class entertainment and top notch customer service that continue as Hanson and her team commemorate the landmark by honoring the partnerships that have been part of the amazing journey and contributed to the event’s stratospheric success.

A quarter-century ago, Mariah Hanson did more than just kick-start her Dinah. She also and most importantly launched what would become her enduring legacy to both the city of Palm Springs and the LGBT community.

From a small, one-night event at a Palm Springs museum with 1,500 participants twenty-five years ago, to booking lavish locations at deluxe hotels over five days of epic pool parties and world-class entertainment with some 15,000-plus attendees and major corporate sponsors today, Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend has evolved into one of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley’s largest tourism boosters and undisputed biggest lesbian event of its kind in the world.

The natural symbiosis shared by these two iconic LGBT mecca has continuously been a match made in heaven. More than a tradition The Dinah Shore Weekend has over these past 25 years (and counting) become a Palm Springs institution and one of the city’s most popular spring attractions.

Once the party pied-a-terre of Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack, who turned Palm Springs into America’s most glamorous destination for the glitterati in the 1950s, the famous sunny oasis has now gotten back in the swing of things to once again reclaim its status as one of Hollywood’s hippest playground and the world hub for major high-profile festivals and special events.

The envy of the world with its 360-days of sunshine, the swanky modern city of glitz and glamour has been attracting a new generation of visitors from young hipsters, international jet-setters to Hollywood A-listers and socialites, who vie for the ultra-chic weekend getaway of martini-sipping, cabana lounging and celebrity sightseeing.

As one of the early pioneers, the Dinah has become one of Palm Spring staple events sharing the spotlight with the likes of the Coachella Music Festival, Stagecoach, The Palm Springs International Film Festival, the BNP Paribas Open Trophy, and the PGA and LPGA golf tournaments — all intrinsically linked to the famous desert community.

In the span of twenty five years, The Dinah has cemented its status as not only an event the entertainment industry’s most elite go to but also as a trendsetting event that music industry insiders watch and jockey to book their artists’ performances.

It is the only acknowledged all-girl party that features such a phenomenal line-up of talent to ever to perform at a lesbian event. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Colbie Caillat, India Arie, The Pussycat Dolls, Kesha and more recently Iggy Azalea, are just a few examples of major recording artists that headlined the epic event while still “unknown,” then systematically went on to hit international superstardom.

While The Dinah has been spearheading music careers, it has, most importantly, also been transforming lives and making a difference in and for the LGBT community. Offering an unparalleled one-of-a-kind experience for myriads of women who come every year from all over the world to enjoy the freedom to be who they truly are without fearing the judgment of others, and gain, as well, a tremendous amount of self worth.

The event has also been serving as a platform to mobilize the LGBT community around humanitarian projects and social issues, famously partnering in previous years with a variety of activist associations and charity organizations such as GLAAD, HRC, NOH8, Love is Louder, Equality California, and The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center among others.

The Dinah has certifiably come to represent an ever-growing movement that has crossed over to mainstream bringing more and more visibility to the lesbian community — one that had never existed before.

Now, ready to soar to new heights, the 25th installment of The Dinah is already expected to be one of the major highlights of the 2015 Palm Springs festival season.

Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend is not just breaking ground, it is making history!

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Mariah Hanson

The Center — a Palm Springs, California, based organization serving the desert LGBT community — is honoring Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend founder and producer Mariah Hanson with the first ever “Legacy Award” for her invaluable contribution to the Coachella Valley LGBT community.

The 5th Annual Center Stage Gala presented by Eisenhower Medical Center will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014, at The Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, California.

Hanson’s visionary leadership as the founder of one of the Coachella Valley’s largest tourism boosters and undisputed biggest lesbian event of it kind in the world, the legendary Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend (aka “The Dinah”) makes her the perfect choice as the first recipient of this inaugural award.

Presented by The Center, the Legacy award is a brand new distinguished honor, which pays tribute to remarkable individuals exemplifying the highest level of achievement and professional excellence when it comes to leading and travailing for the advancement of the LGBT community.

“When considering those who have made a lasting impact on the desert’s LGBT community, Mariah Hanson’s name quickly rose to the top. Her vision for an all-women’s event has become the largest lesbian event of its kind in the world. This is Mariah’s legacy to our community and our reason for recognizing and celebrating her outstanding accomplishment,” says Mike Thompson, Executive Director at the LGBT Community Center of The Desert.

Hanson’s incredible accomplishment with The Dinah has for the past 25 years continuously created a viable platform for the advancement of the LGBT community.

Transforming lives and making a difference in and for the LGBT community, The Dinah offers an unparalleled one-of-a-kind experience for myriads of women who come from all over the world to enjoy the freedom to be who they truly are without fearing the judgment of others, and gain, as well, a tremendous amount of self worth.

Over the course of a quarter of a century, The Dinah has not only been changing lives, but also spearheading music careers. Building on its reputation as the ultimate entertainment hub Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend has positioned itself not only as an event the entertainment industry’s most elite go to but also as a trendsetting event that music industry insiders watch and jockey to book their artists’ performances.

The Dinah is one of the only all-girl parties featuring a phenomenal line-up of talent ever to perform at a lesbian event. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Colbie Caillat, India Arie, The Pussycat Dolls, Kesha and more recently Iggy Azalea, are just a few examples of major recording artists that headlined the epic event while still “unknown” and then systematically went on to hit international superstardom.

More than just an event promoter extraordinaire, Hanson is first and foremost an avant-garde business entrepreneur and exemplary community leader, who in a little over two decades has created an unsurpassed cultural and social phenomenon and built an impressive empire turning a small one-night event with 1,500 participants into a five-day bash with some 15,000-plus participants, booking entire hotels and securing major corporate sponsors.

The 5th Annual Center Stage Gala will open with a Reception & Silent Auction at 5:30pm, followed by a sit-down Dinner and Entertainment at 7pm, hosted by the quick witted Kate Clinton and concert by the nationally recognized singing string quartet Well-Strung. The Center will also honor Judge Vaughn R. Walker (Ret) with the “Vanguard” Award.

Already expected to be one of the highlights of the Coachella Valley social season, the Center Stage soiree not only stands as a fun kick-off to Palm Springs Pride, but also as the perfect opportunity for The Dinah to stamp its mark in its highly anticipated upcoming April 2015 milestone 25th Anniversary.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, call 760-416-7790 or go to www.thecenterps.org.

The Dinah 2015 — celebrating 25 Years of epic pool parties and world-class entertainment — takes place April 1-5, 2015, in Palm Springs, California.

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It wouldn’t be a party without The Dinah girls!

This week to celebrate the gold, silver and bronze wins Club Skirts promoter Mariah Hanson and her team in association with Aqua Girl are hosting the official all-girl bash “The Victory Party” at the Gay Games 9 in Cleveland, Ohio.

“[We] plan to deliver an unforgettable event, Dinah style,” says Mariah, excited to bring The Dinah’s “special brand of high octane event production laced with first class entertainment and music to Cleveland’s Gay Games.”

Mariah and The Dinah team are expecting a sell-out crowd, she says, especially with three floors with DJs and a rooftop patio overlooking Cleveland’s skyline and Lake Erie. More >

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The legendary Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend — the biggest lesbian event of its kind in the world — is confirmed to be hosting the only official Gay Games-sanctioned women party this summer in Cleveland, Ohio.

The announcement comes on the heels of the massive success of this past April’s Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend in Palm Springs, California, which broke all attendance records and garnered extensive national and worldwide media coverage.

Impressed with the outstanding achievement of Mariah Hanson — the mastermind behind The Dinah — and her team in organizing for over two decades such a high profile event, featuring such an elite group of high caliber performers, organizers of the 2014 Cleveland Games handpicked the event producer extraordinaire to exclusively produce the official lesbian party for Gay Games 9 (GG9).

“We’re immensely honored to be joining forces with the entire Gay Games 9 team and have no doubt our combined efforts will turn this incredibly formidable LGBT Sport and Cultural event into the best one ever,” Mariah Hanson, founder and producer of Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, said.

The bash dubbed “The Victory Party” will take place starting at 8pm eastern time on August 13 at The Velvet Dog, Cleveland’s premiere nightclub and dance destination for 15 years.

“We are thrilled to be teaming up with Mariah Hanson and beyond excited to be bringing such a staple event in LGBT culture to the Velvet Dog,” club manager Georgina Karim said.

Voted Cleveland’s best nightclub for the past five years, The Velvet Dog is located in the warehouse district, a bastion of nightlife in the heart of the city.

“The Dinah team is honored to bring our special brand of high octane event production laced with first class entertainment and music to Cleveland’s Gay Games. We couldn’t have picked a better host location than the Velvet Dog, the premiere nightclub in Cleveland. Plus we love the idea of a rooftop patio,” Hanson said. “We’re expecting a sell out crowd and plan to deliver an unforgettable event, Dinah style.”

The victory party will mark Club Skirts’ second Gay Games participation. Hanson previously produced the largest women’s event in 2006 at the navy pier in Chicago, Illinois, showing Club Skirts’ enduring commitment to securing the nicest locations available to showcase the host city.

Presented by the Cleveland Foundation, Gay Games 9 is one of the biggest sports and cultural festivals in the world and comes to the Cleveland and Akron areas August 9-16, 2014.

“Here at Gay Games 9 we are excited to welcome everyone to our region and especially all the women of the world and what better partners to collaborate with then the most amazing, Club Skirts, The Dinah. This will be the party to attend for all of the women. So, come celebrate ‘participation, inclusion and personal bests’ as we embrace and unite as one,” Michelle DeLozier, Gay Games 9 culture co-chair, said.

Open to all adults — regardless of sexual orientation or athletic ability — Gay Games 9 will host 11,000 participants from all over the world (including countries where homosexuality remains illegal and hidden), and will feature more than 35 sports, band and choral competitions, and community and cultural events.

Launched over 30 years ago, the large scale, weeklong event is about more than just an Olympic-style sporting competition with spectacular ceremonies and parties. It is first and foremost about a celebration of the LGBT community and a celebration of the spirit of unity and diversity. This message holds particular significance as Ohio, while recently ordered to recognize out-of-state gay marriages, still remains in the nationwide race to legalize same-sex marriage in its own state.

Both Hanson and organizers of the 2014 Gay Games see the event as not only a chance to show that the industrial Midwest can be gay-friendly, but also as an important potential catalyst for change.

Hanson has been sending a strong message of inclusion through the Dinah.

The event has not only come to embody the very notion of living life out loud, but has also been systematically transforming lives.

“Club Skirts has been passionately committed to extending its involvement beyond the actual Dinah in promoting and showcasing the rich diversity of our LGBT talents by engaging in and supporting events that create and enhance opportunities for our community,” Hanson said. “We look forward to Gay Games week and can’t wait to ignite Cleveland’s lesbian nightlife.”

Stay tuned as Mariah Hanson will be announcing the headlining act in the coming weeks.

Tickets to the event are $25 per person or $50 for VIP, which includes bottle service opportunity, and access to all VIP areas in all three floors as well as the spectacular roof top patio that overlooks the entire city of Cleveland.

For more information about Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend’s Victory Party, click here.

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Founder of The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend shares the secrets of her success. Join the fun April 2-6, 2014, in Palm Springs, Calif.

What did you do before you started your company?
I was an admin at Esprit De Corp for an amazing boss named Liz Kane. She influenced me in my work ethic and how I wanted to show up for my employees. It took me a long time to develop attributes that I think came naturally to her, but I have a life long debt of gratitude to her for being so generous with me in my developing stages.

How did you come up with the idea for your company?
I was a club kid so starting a party was an organic expression for me. I wanted to create a party that I and my friends wanted to go to. And so I did. I never thought it would lead me to where it did, but I am grateful for the journey. It’s been an amazing experience for me to take a small party and out of that to create The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you received when first starting your company? What would you tell a young entrepreneur in turn?
At every success, real success, is a foundation of hard work and dedication, perseverance and courage. In my world view, success is never easy, but it’s certainly worth the journey.

What aspect of business ownership came as the biggest surprise to you?
All the bills. Who knew?

What do you find most rewarding about owning your own business?
I make my own hours. You actually end up working more than if you worked for someone else, but there is a freedom in knowing that if you really need that coffee break or an afternoon horse ride, no one us looking over your shoulder. You also realize that what you put into your business is exactly what you get out of it. That alone keeps me working long hours. But they are my hours and my choices. I like life on my terms.

Where do you see yourself / your company in five years?
I hope it continues to be the basis for a weeklong celebration of our lives. I hope the film festival develops and we make lots of money for HRC.

What would you say is the single most important key to sustaining a business long term?
Business is about relationships, not making money. Making money is a byproduct of good business. This can be the relationship between you and your customer, you and your dreams, you and your vendors, but when it gets right down to it, business, as in life, is all about relationships. The life-long lesson is how to show up in your relationships in a way that honors yourself and as a result, others. So, the most important relationship you can have is the one with yourself. If you can develop the highest form of personal relationship, the world is your oyster.

The post Enterprising women: Mariah Hanson, The Dinah first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Mariah Hanson

BY HEATHER CASSELL

GirlsThatRoam

Mariah Hanson, promoter of Club Skirt’s The Dinah, the annual all-girl weekend hosted in Palm Springs, Calif. is being honored with the 2013 Athena Leadership Award for her tremendous contributions to the Palm Springs community.

Mariah will be honored with the 27th Annual Athena Award on behalf of the City of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce at a special event hosted at the Renaissance Palm Springs on Thursday, Dec. 5.

“I’m humbled to have been considered for this award and especially to be in such stellar company of women,” said Mariah about the award. “I could not be more honored.”

The event will be hosted by Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet and CBS Local 2’s Brooke Beare.

“Helene Galen, Carol Channing and Mariah Hanson truly exemplify the highest level of achievement when it comes to excellence in community leadership and all three of these amazing ladies serve as tremendous role models for future generations of women leaders,” says Steve. “I want to thank them for their outstanding contributions to Palm Springs and I encourage everyone in the Coachella Valley to join the Palm Springs Chamber on Dec. 5 as we celebrate these three remarkable women.”

Mary Jo Ginther, director of Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism agrees.

A sea of women at one of the famed Dinah pool parties. (Photo: Courtesy of the Dinah)

“Mariah has tirelessly promoted Palm Springs for over twenty years through Club Skirts: The Dinah Shore Weekend. She is a true example of an entrepreneur who has built her business with each individual effort and Palm Springs has been lucky to be the recipient of her efforts,” says Mary Jo.

Mariah was selected to receive this honor because of her visionary leadership as the founder of one of the city’s largest tourism boosters, the world famous and hugely successful The Dinah, which is also known as the Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend.

For 24 years, Mariah has not only continuously promoted Palm Springs as a destination, but she has also created a viable platform for the advancement of the LGBT community, according to The Dinah news release Oct. 15.

“Palm Springs has been home to the Original Dinah Shore Weekend for the past 24 years. I couldn’t have chosen a better host city to produce the largest lesbian event in the world,” says Mariah. “It’s an amazing LGBT supportive city and this recognition shows just how truly hip and inclusive Palm Springs is. I look forward to The Dinah being here for another 24 years!”

As the largest and biggest lesbian event in the world, the Dinah offers a life-changing experience for myriads of women who come from all over the world to enjoy the freedom to be who they truly are without fearing the judgment, discrimination and prejudice of others. With The Dinah, Mariah provides a haven where acceptance and tolerance – in its deepest values – rule.

The Athena Award is a distinguished national honor awarded annually by the chamber of commerce’s around the nation to pay tribute to women who demonstrate excellence and creativity in their business or in the community at large.

Inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment, the Athena Leadership Award is presented to exemplary community leaders who are honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

Additionally, the women who are honored with the Athena Award actively assist women in realizing their leadership potential, pointing out Nona Watson, CEO of the Palm Springs Chamber.

This year’s group of honorees is “truly spectacular women leaders making a difference in the Coachella Valley,” says Nona.

Other 2013 honorees joining Mariah are Helene Galen who will be awarded the “Community Icon” Award, and Carol Channing recipient of the “Jackie Lee Houston Angel Award.”

Mary Jo points out that all three women have significantly touched Palm Springs art community.

Helene has been intimately involved with the Palm Springs Art Museum for many years. In the same breath, Dr. Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Foundation fosters the benefits of arts back into the curriculum of California public schools, and has funded scholarships for students and teachers in the arts, included here in the Coachella Valley.

Helene has also assisted in the medical world and with children’s programs, Mary Jo points out.

“Carol is a frequent guest at many city events, and it is always an honor and a delight to experience her upbeat and infectious personality,” says Mary Jo.

“Palm Springs wouldn’t be where it is today without their love for our city,” says Mary Jo.  “All three ladies are remarkable and truly deserve this recognition. In very different ways – as promoter, actress, and philanthropist, they have each played a role in the quality of the Palm Springs that we all enjoy today.”

To attend the gala honoring Mariah along with Carol and Helene hosted at Renaissance Palm Springs (888 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, 800-468-3571, RenaissanceHotelPalmSprings.com‎) and learn more about The Athena Awards, visit www.pschamber.org or call 760-325-1577.

To learn more about Mariah and attend the 23rd annual The Dinah, visit TheDinah.com.

Originally published by GirlsThatRoam.com

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