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NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT : Lisa Ziriax, NFRW Press Office

communications@nfrw.org

405.596.3873

                                                                      

National Federation of Republican Women 

Presents 2015 Ronald Reagan Award to

Vanessa La Franco

 New Jersey Federation of Republican Women's Leader

 

 NJFRW State Federation President Receives Honor at National Convention

 

Phoenix, Arizona - In recognition of her unique and lasting contributions, the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) has presented their New Jersey President, Vanessa La Franco, with their highest and most prestigious Award, the 2015 Ronald Reagan Leadership Award. The Award was established by the NFRW in 2005 to recognize the outstanding leadership of one State President, and is presented every two years at the biennial convention. La Franco received this year's award at the Sept. 12 luncheon in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

The Reagan Award was presented to La Franco because of the instrumental role she played in successful fundraising projects, chartering and reactivating the NJ Federation of Republican Women's (NJFRW) county organizations, while also advancing social media initiatives. Under her leadership, the NJ Federation experienced a substantial increase in membership and assumed a more active role in National programs.

 

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, La Franco majored in Economics and was a leader in the UPenn College Republicans. In 2013 and again in 2015, she was unanimously elected by the NJFRW to become their youngest President since its founding in 1929. La Franco sits on NFRW's Campaign Committee and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.  A successful stockbroker, she has served on numerous non-profit Boards, including the Tony Award winning McCarter Theatre, the Washington-Rochambeau Society, and was appointed to the office of Finance Chair of the Princeton University Art Museum.

 

Her courses and political interest led to an internship with New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith, Congressional Chair of the Helsinki Commission and a Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.  Vanessa's foreign language expertise gave her interpretive advantages, as did her knowledge of Economics. This challenging experience taught her the importance of early and precise advice, further developed her expertise to fundraise without offending, drew her attention to the immediate need to improve the digital communication skills of older voters, and attenuated the selection and advocacy skills crucial to electing capable Republican women to office.  Congressman Smith ignited Vanessa's instinct for political strategy and encouraged her to use her political foresight to win elections and build solid GOP constituencies.

 

Founded in 1938, the National Federation of Republican Women has thousands of active members in local clubs across the nation, making it one of the largest women's political organizations in the country. The grassroots organization works to promote the principles and objectives of the Republican Party, elect Republican candidates, inform the public through political education and activity, and increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government.

 

"The long and arduous campaign to win a 'Woman's Right To Vote,' and the steely resolve of our Organization's early activists to succeed, has had a momentous impact on the 2016 primary Presidential Election. It may have taken 95 long years, but the Republican and Democratic parties now each have a woman running for President. A proud victory for all women. Our right to vote has opened the world to us, and has made it a place where we can achieve more, enjoy more, and be more." said 

La Franco.