MING TSAI AND DEIRDRE QUINN HEADLINE WOMEN’S DAY
HARTFORD, Conn., May 31, 2013 – The Travelers Championship today announced that celebrity chef Ming Tsai and Lafayette 148 New York President and Co-Founder Deirdre Quinn are the featured speakers for its 2013 Women’s Day Breakfast on Thursday, June 20, at TPC River Highlands.
The fifth annual Women’s Day, sponsored by Travelers, begins with a networking breakfast at 7 a.m. At 8 a.m., UCONN Women’s Basketball Coaches Geno Auriemma, Shea Ralph and Marisa Moseley will share highlights of their national championship season. Ming Tsai will follow with a cooking demonstration for attendees, and then Deirdre Quinn will speak about her life and career, followed by a fashion presentation. For all women attending the tournament on Women’s Day, there will be tours of the Golf Channel studio, preferred bleacher seating, 10 percent off at the official merchandise tent, a golf clinic at the tournament’s practice facility, and tours of the golf course, where a TPC River Highlands professional will show the best places to watch the tournament.
“The Travelers Championship prides itself on hosting special events throughout tournament week that are made for golf fans and general spectators alike,” said Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “Women’s Day brings together females from various backgrounds to enjoy the tournament in an event that’s tailored just for them. We’re excited to host Ming and Deirdre for a day that will inspire and entertain women from throughout the region.”
Ming Tsai is the James Beard Award-winning chef/owner of two restaurants – Blue Ginger and Blue Dragon. Also an Emmy Award-winner, Ming hosts PBS-TV’s “Simply Ming,” now in its 10th season. Ming is the author of five cookbooks, including his latest “Simply Ming In Your Kitchen.” In 2012, Ming was invited by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to represent the U.S. with the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership Initiative/American Chef Corps. The Chef Corps is a network of American chefs that participate with official government programs that use food as a foundation for international diplomacy efforts. Ming is a national spokesperson for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). Ming also worked with the Massachusetts Legislature to help write Bill S. 2701 that requires local restaurants to comply with food allergy awareness guidelines. A member of the Harvard School of Public Health’s Nutrition Round Table, Ming also supports many charities including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cam Neely Foundation, Family Reach Foundation and Greater Boston Food Bank.
As president and co-founder of Lafayette 148 New York, Deirdre Quinn has developed the brand into one of the most coveted women’s fashion lines in the country. The brand is sold in over 400 stores throughout North America including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, as well as through the company’s own website and catalog – and around the globe in China. Quinn is also a Fashion Institute of Technology trustee and an associate member of the Partnership for New York City. She is committed to helping shape the future of the fashion industry through educational philanthropy and advocacy supporting New York’s position as a global center of commerce and innovation. In addition to supporting charitable causes locally in New York, Quinn is a Board Member of the School of Dreams, a school for young underprivileged children in Shantou, China, founded by Lafayette 148 New York.
“Women’s Day has become a staple of our tournament week, and continues to grow and get more popular each year. Ming and Deirdre are wonderful guests that will once again make our Women’s Day a success,” said Andy Bessette, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Travelers. “We’re thrilled that Women’s Day is in its fifth year, and Travelers is proud to support programming that appeals directly to our female fans and broadens the tournament’s audience.”
Travelers is once again the Presenting Sponsor for Women’s Day, and the Hartford Business Journal, Hartford HealthCare and Red Thread will serve as Event Partners. Proceeds from Women’s Day will benefit the charities of the Travelers Championship, including The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which serves children suffering from serious illnesses.
Tickets for the Women’s Day Breakfast, which are $50 and include a general admission ticket to the tournament, are available now at here. This year’s Travelers Championship field already includes top players such as Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Rickie Fowler, Ian Poulter, Zach Johnson, and reigning champion Marc Leishman. The Travelers Championship will be held June 17 to 23 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.
