The Global Women Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity created to fund and produce the California Women's Conference, held annually at the Long Beach Convention Center. Governor George Deukmejian started the California Women's Conference 28 years ago when an alarming number of women-owned businesses were failing at a rapid rate due to a lack of skills and resources. Since its beginning in 1985, the mission of the Conference has been to provide educational resources and tools for women to improve their personal and professional lives and enable them to reach their full potential. The State of California funded the California Women's Conference from its inception until 2009. When the recession hit in 2008-2009, the State ceased funding for the event due to budget shortages and it was on the brink of being permanently shut down in 2010. Friends and associates encouraged today's Global Women Foundation Executive Director, Michelle Patterson, to step in and take over the event. Michelle Patterson's profession at the time was producing large scale charity events similar to the California Women's Conference through her own non-profit foundation. It seemed only fitting Michelle Patterson take over the Conference because of the impact Governor Deukmejian had on Michelle when she was in grade school. The year the Conference was started, 12 year-old Michelle Patterson was chosen to interview the Governor for her 8th grade school paper. After completing the interview, Governor Deukmejian responded by saying to Michelle that she was the best interviewer he ever had. Michelle's bolstered confidence has never deflated. Confidence building has become one of the main philosophies of the Conference and Global Women Foundation – creating a community where women are told they matter. It has “taken a moment to create a movement!" The mission of the Global Women Foundation is to create global change by bringing Women together and empowering them to transform their communities. Global Women Foundation will profitably produce the California Women's Conference and then roll-out this same type women's conference to all 50 states. There already is an Oregon Women's Conference patterned after the California Women's Conference. Other states have expressed interest too. As the Foundation grows and expands its producer business model, it will also serve as a financial institution providing financing to other organizations seeking to support women's initiatives approved by the Global Women Foundation's Board of Directors.