Heidi Raphael '85, a Medaille College trustee and vice president of corporate communication at Greater Media, Inc., has been named chairwoman for the 2012 Handbag Happy Hour Benefiting Everywoman Opportunity Center (EWOC).

The event kicks off on Friday, March 16 at 6 p.m. at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens.

Hundreds of designer and one-of-a-kind handbags will be available for live and silent auctions at the only event of its kind in this area. Proceeds will go towards EWOC, whose mission is to help women achieve personal and economic self sufficiency. Raphael serves as the vide president for the Center's board.

The non-profit offers several services to help women enter, re-enter, upgrade or change careers in the paid work force such as a career clothes closet, image consulting, career counseling, career readiness training, ESL classes and placement assistance. Offices are located throughout WNY and more information is at the organization’s website, www.everywoman.org.

Tickets for the 2012 Handbag Happy Hour benefitting Everywoman Opportunity Center can be purchased online at the event’s website at www.2012handbaghappyhour.com.