Mannington Honors Three Women Innovators

Salem, NJ, November 20, 2006--The National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia provided the perfect backdrop this year for the Mannington Mills Stand on a Better World award ceremony, according to Today's Sunbeam. The three woman being honored at the event fit perfectly with those in the museum's exhibits, including Nobel Peace Prize winners, heroes of the tragedy of Sept. 11 and many presidents and leaders who shaped our country through vision, dedication and personal sacrifice. This year's winners were Olga Murray of Sausalito, Calif., Dana Dakin of Wilmot, N.H. and Ritu Primlani of Berkeley, Calif. Murray was also named the grand prize winner. Each recipient received $10,000 for their cause, with the grand prize winner receiving $25,000. The Stand on a Better World contest began as a vision of Mannington Mills Director of Marketing Ellen Madill. The program's goal was to recognize women making outstanding contributions in their communities in three categories: Social economic and environmental. Nominations for the award poured in for women of all ages and nationalities. Chairman of the Board for Mannington Mills, Keith Campbell opened Thursday night's program with a tale of two cities. Though drastically different in population, he said Salem and Philadelphia have many things in common, including history and traditions. He also thought Philadelphia a great place to honor the winners of the award. "It warms the heart to know there are women out there who care," Campbell said. "And not only do they care, they lead a dream." Prior to dinner, "Benjamin Franklin" spoke to the group, tell the importance of "good drivers" to lead and inspire. He said the three woman honored at the ceremony were just such drivers. He also praised Mannington Mills for its work in recognizing the women. Madill said she was amazed by the response to the award this second year. Roughly 500 were nominated for the Stand on a Better World award this year. "These are people who stepped out of their comfort zone and are doing things to make this a better world," Madill said. Choosing this year's winners was the duty of former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman, Olympic skater Dorothy Hamil, television personality Leeza Gibbons, Deborah Bell, last year's Stand on a Better World grand prize winner, Shirley Campbell, community leader and wife of Keith Campbell and Betty Davis, lifelong volunteer and wife of Mannington Mills president and CEO Tom Davis. Whitman presented the environmental award to Primlani. Primlani founded Thimmakka Certified Green Restaurants (www.thimmakka.org) in an effort to help ethnic restaurants become more environmentally aware and compliant though education and resources. Today, her organization has certified 44 restaurants with 100 more participating. Whitman praised her work and vision regarding the environment. "This is one woman who wanted to make a difference and she's done it," Whitman said. "Never doubt the difference an individual can make." In accepting her award, Primlani lauded Mannington Mills, saying "in recognizing someone with vision shows they also have vision." Dankin was presented her award in the economic category by Hamil. Dankin lives by the motto "life comes in thirds: The first third, you learn, the second you earn and the third you return." Dankin adopted a village in Ghana and instituted a microlending program for the women and girls of the village with entrepreneurial dreams. Today the program, Woman's Trust (www.womanstrust.org) serves close to 500 woman and she hopes to double that number by next summer. Dankin thanked all in attendance. "This award is so important," she said. "It gives me total hope. Half our mission is to inspire others. One person can make a difference. And it's up to us." The social category winner, Olga Murray, began her mission with a retirement trip to Napal.