Toler Will Be Honored For Her Career and Leadership Accomplishments at the LAAAWPPI's Fourth Annual "Women in Action" Awards Reception

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Sparks Vice President/General Manager Penny Toler will be honored as one of five recipients of the Los Angeles African American Women's Public Policy Institute's "Women in Action" Awards on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at the Target Terrace at L.A. Live.

Toler has been the General Manager of the Sparks for ten seasons and just completed her first season as Vice President of the team. She handles both the day-to-day management and basketball operations of the team, as well as the year-round scouting of international and collegiate athletes. In her ten seasons as General Manager, she has guided the team to nine playoff appearances and back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002.

"I'm extremely honored to be receiving the LAAAWPPI's 'Women in Action' award," said Toler. "The work that this organization does to empower women to reach their full potential is phenomenal. I hope that my receiving this award will help inspire women to pursue their dreams of becoming great leaders in our society."

The other four honorees include the Honorable Jan Perry of the Los Angeles City Council, 9th District, Sandy Banks of the Los Angeles Times, Sheila E., an award winning singer/songwriter and co-founder of the Elevate Hope Foundation and Kerry Washington, an award winning actress and activist.

Unique from the other honorees, Toler has made her mark as a trailblazer in sports. She was the first player to score a basket in the WNBA, and in just two years became the fastest person in any men's or women's professional sports league to win a championship after being named General Manager from player status.

"We are so happy to be honoring Penny Toler in the sports arena because it isn't often that you have the chance to honor a woman in leadership in sports," said Joy Atkinsin, LAAAWPPI Program Administrator. "She smoothly made the transition from being an incredible basketball player to being a phenomenal General Manager and knowing how to run a team. We felt that she deserved public recognition for being able to expand her profession and we believe that she is a great role model for women who are also looking to expand their sphere of opportunity."

The LAAAWPPI "Women in Action" Awards Reception is the nexus of achievements in women representing business, politics, Foreign Service, social activism, entrepreneurship, and the non-profit sector. Marc Brown of ABC 7 Eyewitness News will be the Master of Ceremony for the reception.