Global Gaming Women to host annual Kick Up Your Heels event

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Global Gaming Women (GGW), a Las Vegas-based charitable organization designed to deliver educational programs and events that support, inspire and influence the development of women in the gaming and lottery industries, proudly announces its annual Kick Up Your Heels event with new programming to include honoring the recipients of the newly-created Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award. Industry leader and gaming executive Patty Becker will give each honoree a Patty Becker Pay It Forward Bracelet at the event.

Held Wednesday, 28 September, 2016 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Boulevard Pool inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Kick Up Your Heels is designed to not only benefit the GGW Charitable Education Fund, which provides scholarships to GGW members, but to present four professional businesswomen with the Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award.

The award is a bracelet given to a woman who has "Paid It Forward," a woman who gives back to a degree that she stands out, has committed to the development and advancement of women and support of GGW.

Ms. Becker's distinguished career was recognized in 2014 when she was inducted into the American Gaming Association's Gaming Hall of Fame, one of few women so honored. The award and corresponding bracelet are named in her honor acknowledging her ongoing commitment to supporting women in the gaming industry, her dedication to GGW, her 2010 creation of Kick Up Your Heels, and her continued patronage of the event and its purpose.

The 2016 Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award recipients include:

• Phyllis Gilland, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC – For four years, Phyllis has been co-chair of the Education Committee and operated the scholarship subcommittee. She organized the original Dine Around Box utilized at many GGW educational programs throughout the United States providing a fun way for women attendees to learn about one another and develop relationships. Phyllis is one of the women whose focused dedication reorganizing GGW and transitioning from AGA led to the 2016 launch of GGW as an independent charitable organization.
• Tina Kilmer, Vice President, Scientific Games Corp & Christie Eickelman, Vice President of Marketing, Gaming Laboratories International, LLC - Since 2011, Tina and Christie have co-chaired the Events Committee, planning the GGW outreach programs, breakfasts and lunches at numerous events. These programs at ICE, NIGA, G2E and many other venues increased GGW’s visibility and provided initial contact with GGW for many women. Their combined efforts have led to hundreds of women participating in development and educational opportunities.
• Virginia McDowell, Formerly Isle of Capri CEO, President & Chair of GGW - Virginia has co-chaired Global Gaming Women for AGA since its inception. Her energy, commitment and fundraising ensured that GGW re-launched in 2016 a viable self-sufficient charitable organization with purpose, goals, and vision. Her dedication to GGW has been a key factor to its growth and continued success in its mission.

Tickets are $100 per person and all proceeds go directly towards the GGW Charitable Education Fund. For more information, to purchase tickets and for sponsorship opportunities for Kick Up Your Heels, please visit the website.

For more information on GGW, please visit the website, call 702-336-1453 or email Katarina Murzl at kmurzl@globalgamingwomen.org. Keep up with GGW announcements and news on Twitter at @gaming_women.