The Sirleaf Market Women's Fund (SMWF) is launching a newly created Adopt-a-Market Campaign on Wednesday, June 4th, at the New York Society for Ethical Culture located at 2 W. 64th Street (and Central Park West) in New York City. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will pay tribute to Liberian market women as the backbone of Liberia’s economy and stress the importance of African women to the continent's economic development. Actress Cicely Tyson will give personal remarks about her experience visiting the markets in Liberia with President Ellen last Spring. The group’s goal is to raise $1,000,000 in order to build 10 markets. Those who commit to adopting a market and bringing others in to do the same will become known as Friends of the Liberian Market Women. Those who raise $5,000 or more will be honored at the VIP reception on June 4th from 6:00 to 7 p.m. followed by a program in the 800-seat auditorium starting at 7 p.m. Proceeds will go to the Sirleaf Market Women’s Fund via the AWDF/USA 501(c)(3) tax-exempt account. The event will be co-hosted by the Sirleaf Market Women's Fund (www.smwf.org) and the African Women's Development Fund (www.awdf.org) in collaboration with the New York Society for Ethical Culture (NYSEC). Friends of Liberia is a member of the International Advisory Committee of SMWF. For more information, please contact smwfund@gmail.com.