Multiple grand tennis champion and entrepreneur Venus Williams accepted the YWCA GLA Phenomenal Woman of the Year Award on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.

The ceremony was held in downtown Los Angeles at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel at 500 S. Grand Avenue and the theme was “Saluting Women Who Change the Game.” Other special guests included Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Dreamgirls”), Vanessa Williams (“Imagine That”), Rachael Grant (“Die Another Day”), LaVan Davis (“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne”) and more.

Faye Washington, CEO of YWCA Greater Los Angeles spoke highly of Serena, saying:

“We are thrilled to salute Venus Williams with the Phenomenal Woman of the Year Award. Venus Williams exemplifies the YWCA’s core mission of ‘eliminating racism, empowering women.’ She is the quintessential example of our event theme, “Saluting Women who Change the Game. ” We are so proud of her accomplishments on and off the court and so grateful to her for embracing our Job Corps program and students.”

In addition to accepting her award, Venus concluded her two-day visit in Los Angeles as a guest speaker for the YWCA GLA Job Corps Graduation Ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

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