The YWCA of Silicon Valley hosted its 19th Annual Luncheon event on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The event serves as a major fundraiser, with proceeds going to support the programs and services of the YWCA of Silicon Valley. Sonia Manzano, accomplished actress and author, was the keynote speaker at the event.

Sonia Manzano has been a presence on Public Television since the 1970’s and is easily recognized as “Maria” on Sesame Street.  After ten years as an actress, she began writing scripts for the series and has fifteen Emmy Awards as part of the Sesame Street writing staff.  She also wrote for the Peabody Award-winning children’s series Little Bill for Nickelodeon, and for a short time wrote a parenting column for the Sesame Workshop website called Talking Outloud.

Sonia Manzano has returned to the New York stage starring in The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated.

Ms.  Manzano has received awards from The Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington, DC and The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and in 2004 received an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Notre Dame University.  She was twice nominated for an Emmy Award as “Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series.”

Ms. Manzano’s first picture book No Dogs Allowed! was published in 2004.  General Mills gave away 1.5 million copies in boxes of Cherrios as part of their “Spoonfuls of Reading” program.  No Dogs Allowed! was turned into a musical that was presented by the Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theater in Florida in 2006.  Her second book, A Box Full of Kittens, was published in 2007.

Over 40 companies and individuals sponsor the annual luncheon. More than 80 community volunteers serve as Table Captains, inviting friends, family, and business associates to the luncheon. Total attendance for the event is expected to be over 1,500 Silicon Valley community members. This is a non-ticketed fundraising event; guests attend as an individual or sponsored guest. A donation appeal will be made during the event, requesting a donation of $150.00 or more to support the on-going programs and services of the YWCA of Silicon Valley. To attend this event, contact events@ywca.org, or call (408) 295-4011 ext. 216.