NEW YORK, NY, October 20, 2015 – Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) is now accepting nominations for the Wonder Women Awards, an annual tribute to the industry’s top female executives and entrepreneurs. Honorees will be celebrated at the 2016 Wonder Women Awards Gala on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at the Grand Hyatt New York, during New York International Toy Fair.

WIT’s Wonder Women Awards is widely considered to be the most prestigious recognition program honoring the contributions and accomplishments of women in the toy, licensing and entertainment industries.

The event brings together industry leaders from around the world to shine the spotlight on award winners and nominees, connect with colleagues, and enjoy a festive evening filled with celebration, gourmet fare, and lots of fun surprises.

The Wonder Women Award winners will be recognized for their excellence across eight categories:
· Retailer of the Year
· Manufacturer
· Designer/Inventor
· Licensing/Entertainment
· Rising Star
· Marketing/Advertising
· PR/Social Media
· Social Responsibility

Nominations are open until January 10, 2016. Those wishing to submit a nomination are not required to be a WIT members. However, nominees must be a WIT member in good standing, or join WIT to be eligible to win. Nomination fee schedule is as follows:

$100 – October 5 – November 26
$200 – November 27 – December 25
$250 – December 26 – January 10

To nominate a Wonder Woman, please visit www.WomenInToys.com. The Wonder Women Awards Selection Committee and WIT Board of Directors will review all nominees and select winners in each category.

This year’s gala will commemorate WIT’s 25th Anniversary and honor its founders Anne Pitrone and Susan Matsumoto with a special Founder’s Award. WIT has never been more ambitious in its history, especially given the organization’s alignment with an emerging megatrend in the larger society -- female empowerment. WIT continues to instill its founders’ vision by:

• Honoring women business leaders through the WIT Wonder Women Awards Gala.
• Connecting our industry’s women and providing a conduit that fosters strong relationships, creative collaboration, and new business opportunities at our many local, national and international events.
• Providing resources that educate and guide our members through free informational webinars, inspirational speakers and mentorship.
• Giving women unique opportunities to grow their businesses and their careers through our Empowerment initiatives, including the annual WIT Empowerment Day.

WIT is currently seeking 2016 Corporate Partners. Companies large and small are invited to align their brand with WIT’s mission, while enhancing their reputation as an organization committed to building diverse teams that drive growth and innovation. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please click here.