LIFETIME NETWORKS AND ROCK THE VOTE TO HOST EVERY WOMAN COUNTS LATE – NIGHT CELEBRATION AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Today, Lifetime Networks and Rock the Vote announced that Ashanti will headline the Every Woman Counts late-night celebration at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, August 26, 10:00 p.m., at the Cowboy Lounge in LoDo, Denver. The party is also sponsored by White House Black Market, retailer of the dress Michelle Obama “rocked” during her appearance on “The View.”
 
Who:  The Every Woman Counts party will feature:

    * Ashanti, Universal Motown/Inc recording artist and Grammy® Award winner
    * Idina Menzel, Warner Bros. Records recording artist and Tony® Award winner, Host and special performance

Special guests:


    * Fran Drescher, Actress and Executive Director of Cancer Schmancer
    * Stars from Lifetime’s hit drama “Army Wives” Brigid Brannagh and Sally Pressman


When:              TUESDAY, August 26th
                            10 p.m. – 1 a.m.

                       Red carpet begins at 10 p.m.  Interviews available with all talent.
 
Where:           Cowboy Lounge
                        1941 Market Street (Between 19th and 20th Streets)
                        LoDo, Denver
 
Credentials:      Space is limited; please RSVP at rsvpdenver@lifetimetv.com


 
“I use my voice to empower women,” said Ashanti. “Thirty-five million eligible women didn’t vote in the 2004 presidential election, and it is my hope that this event will help shine a spotlight on this statistic and inspire women to get involved.  Voting is so important to me and my family, who were involved in the civil rights movement. It is really an honor to work with Lifetime and Rock the Vote to make sure that every woman does count this election.”
 
“I am so honored to participate in the Every Woman Counts party with Lifetime and Rock the Vote.  It is imperative that we never take for granted our rights as American citizens to vote.  We must remember that our voices do matter,” said Idina Menzel.
 
The event, part of the nonpartisan Every Woman Counts campaign, will bring together delegates, elected officials, political leaders, campaign staff, advocates, and Every Woman Counts Coalition partners to celebrate women’s leadership and encourage more women to be involved in the political process, as voters and future candidates. Throughout the evening, women will be able to register to vote at the Every Woman Counts bus, which will be parked out front. Every Woman Counts Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and vignettes from celebrities such as Reba McIntyre, Queen Latifah, Jewel and many more will play throughout the night.
 
This party is part of a series of events Lifetime and its partners are hosting at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Below is a summary of the other events planned in Denver and the Twin Cities as part of the Every Woman Counts initiative.


About Every Woman Counts
Every Woman Counts is the only public service campaign dedicated to encouraging women to speak out on the issues they care about most, vote and run for office. For the first time, the 2008 Every Woman Counts initiative is leveraging the power of the #1 and #2 television networks’ for women — Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) — and include the most extensive on-air programming, digital content and grassroots efforts to date. To expand the effort and reach women everywhere they live, work and play, Lifetime launched the first-ever Every Woman Counts media and advocacy coalition in partnership with REDBOOK, CosmoGIRL!, Marie Claire, celebrities, experts and hundreds of women’s nonprofit organizations representing more than 15 million women from all sides of the political spectrum.
 
About LIFETIME
LIFETIME is the leader in women’s television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.
 
About Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote’s mission is to engage and build the political power of young people in order to achieve progressive change in our country.  Rock the Vote uses music, popular culture and new technologies to engage and incite young people to register and vote in every election. And we give young people the tools to identify, learn about, and take action on the issues that affect their lives, and leverage their power in the political process. Rock the Vote is creative, effective, and controlled by nobody’s agenda but our own – we tell it like it is and pride ourselves on being a trusted source for information on politics. We empower the 44 million young people in America who want to step up, claim their voice in the political process, and change the way politics is done. www.rockthevote.org 


About White House Black Market
The ultimate destination for the little black dress, polished work essentials and everything in between, White House Black Market offers chic, sophisticated apparel and accessories in a signature palette of white and black.  White House Black Market owns and operates 329 stores nationwide.  For more information, please visit whitehouseblackmarket.com. 
 
About ASHANTI
Grammy® Award winner Ashanti brings her best game and more on her fourth studio album, the aptly titled The Declaration, which arrived in June of 2008 as the most complete and compelling offering of her career.   A soaring collection of new tracks, penned by the multi-talented artist, the intricately produced album captures her alluring presence and incredible vocal range. The Declaration is an impressive rollout of A-list producers, including Jermaine Dupri, LT Hutton, Babyface, Seven Aurelius, Pharrell Williams, and others. Ashanti has performed before Presidents and Royalty. She has performed duets with the likes of Pattie Labelle, Smokie Robinson, Ronald Isley, Stevie Wonder and Kenny Chesney to name a few. She has appeared on shows ranging from Oprah, Ellen, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis & Kelly, Saturday Night Live, The View, Conan O’Brien, BET 106 & Park, MTV TRL, VH1 and Fuse TV among others. She has performed on virtually every music awards show from the American Music Awards to the Grammy’s, the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Europe Awards, the Soul Train Awards and the Kids’ Choice Awards.  She is an American Favorite, singing the National Anthem and God Bless America for major events including the World Series.
 
About Idina
Idina Menzel’s Warner Bros. Records debut album, “I Stand” is a powerful collection of exquisite new songs written by the Tony® Award winning actress/singer/songwriter. With Idina’s one-of-a-kind soaring voice and the talent of legendary Grammy winning producer Glen Ballard, the final outcome is an album filled with pop tunes and heartfelt ballads.  Idina reached superstardom on Broadway in two career-defining roles – her Tony Award winning performance in the musical blockbuster “Wicked” and in the revolutionary “Rent.” In the winter of l995, Idina auditioned for the Broadway bound “Rent” and won the part of Maureen, an outspoken bi-sexual performance artist.  The role earned Menzel her first Tony®
nomination and the musical went on to win four Tony® Awards and the Pulitzer Prize.  In 2003, Idina originated the role of “the green girl,” the misunderstood witch in the hit musical “Wicked” which included her show-stopping performance of the song “Defying Gravity”.  In 2007, she re-recorded and remixed “Gravity” and the song went on to become a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Dance Chart. Her star turn in “Wicked” won her a Tony Award and huge critical acclaim.  Film credits include starring roles in the Disney romantic fable, “Enchanted”, “Rent” and Robert Towne’s “Ask The Dust”.  The Robert Zemekis film and soundtrack album “Beowulf” includes a performance of the song “A Hero Comes Home” by Idina.