Joining nearly 2,000 other participants, College of Business staff and faculty stepped up Saturday at a special event to raise money and awareness for women’s issues.
     According to a Louisville Courier-Journal report, the inaugural “Champions 4 Her” walk and run festival generated more than $147,000 for 10 organizations, including Women 4 Women, Project Women, the Center for Women and Families and the University of Louisville Women’s Center/PEACC Program.

     College of Business Assistant  Dean for Development Jane Goldstein, Executive-in-Residence Suzanne Bergmeister and Brown-Forman Chair in Entrepreneurship Jim Fiet were among runners and walkers who completed the 5K (three-mile) course, which started and finished at Waterfront Park and included a round trip across the Second Street Bridge to Indiana.
     “It’s the first 5K I’ve done in years,” Fiet said after finishing.  “I don’t mind telling you my time back then was considerably better.”
     Goldstein, who was honored following the walk for being named one of UofL’s “Champions 4 Her,” came to Waterfront Park ready for a challenge.
     “I’ve been getting ready for this all week,” she said.  “Just show me the starting line.”
     The idea for the collaborative event grew out of the 2005 Louisville Women’s Summit co-hosted by Women 4 Women and the Louisville Metro Office for Women, and sponsored by Norton Women’s Pavilion. Staff and volunteers from each of the ten benefiting organizations participated in the planning, preparation and management of the event.
     According to officials, the festival was the city’s largest event ever for women and girls’ causes.  They said although the project was a great success, Louisville still ranks near the bottom amongst US cities in critical areas affecting women and families, including health and economic well-being.