Menendez Announces Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton as Keynote Speaker at 12^th Annual Evangelina Menendez Women’s History Month Celebration

Event is in tribute to the Senator’s mother who played a pivotal role in his life; Awards honor NJ women in science, industry, arts, sports, education, and more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) announced today that Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton will serve as the keynote speaker at his 12^th Annual Evangelina Menendez Women’s History Month Celebration to be held on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at Montclair State University.

Created in tribute to the Senator’s late mother, who came to the United States from Cuba to give her children a better life, the Evangelina Menendez Trailblazer Awards honor outstanding New Jersey women who have made achievements in government, industry, education, science, the arts, and many other fields. Evangelina Menendez passed away in 2009 after a long, courageous fight with Alzheimer’s disease.

“It’s my honor to welcome Secretary Clinton to New Jersey to be the keynote speaker at my 12^th annual Women’s History Month Celebration,” said Sen. Menendez. “Her gracious service to our country has left an enormous legacy and has made her an iconic trailblazer who has paved the way for millions of American women for the generations to come.”

Hillary Rodham Clinton served as the 67th United States secretary of state under president Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States senator representing New York from 2001 to 2009, and as the first lady of the United States from 1993-2000. In 2016, Clinton was the first woman in the nation’s history to win a major party’s nomination for president and went on to earn 66 million votes.

Past keynote speakers have included U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, and New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy.  Past honorees include Judith Persichilli, Commissioner for the NJ Department of Health Commissioner; Roslyn Y. Rogers Collins, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey; New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz; and Captain Jean O’Brien, Commanding Officer, U.S. Navy.

This year’s event, which is free and open to the public, will feature awards to New Jersey women including Debbie Walsh, Amanda Devecka-Rinear, Lourdes Cortez, and Christine Girtain, and will include vocal and dance performances from local women’s groups. Members of the public wishing to attend the event should RSVP at: https://www.menendez.senate.gov/whm2023.

The event is open to members of the press. If interested in covering the event, please RSVP using this form.