Program Update

In the Media

PRESS RELEASE: Torrance, CA - March 2025

Ivory Freeman, founder and CEO of Bessie Morris Foundation, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Women Award by El Camino College. This prestigious honor recognizes women who demonstrate exceptional commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in their communities.

Aligned with this year's National Women's History Month theme “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” Freeman was recognized for her ongoing leadership in creating academic and inspirational opportunities for girls in the local area.

Through Bessie Morris Foundation, Freeman spearheads programs that highlight stories of trailblazing women, offering inspirational content and a growing academic scholarship initiative aimed at cultivating the next generation of confident, capable female leaders. These efforts not only provide financial support but also foster a deeper sense of identity, pride, and purpose among young women.

Freeman's recognition will be celebrated at the Distinguished Women's Event and memorialized on the Women's Wall of Fame in El Camino College's Schauerman Library.

“I am deeply honored to be included among women who are shaping our future by investing in others,” Freeman said. “This recognition fuels my passion to expand our impact at Bessie Morris and continue creating platforms where young girls see what's possible.”

To learn more or support the mission, visit BessieMorris.org.

Women's history month event information.