Celebrating Women: A Note from Kim Gandy

This entry is part of a series in celebration of Women's History Month.

What an incredible twelve months this has been!

Last year during Women's History Month, the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) announced its endorsement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for president of the United States. We chose to make our announcement at the historic home of Alice Paul, author of the Equal Rights Amendment and one of the brave leaders who helped win women the right to vote.

It was a moving moment, surrounded by women's rights leaders and activists of all ages; with Sen. Clinton by our side, we were inspired by the tireless dedication of those who came before us. The young women, in particular, made that day special – seeing their faces and knowing that their potential would have even more room to grow and flourish, thanks to the force that is Hillary Clinton. One year later, I couldn't be more proud of the early stand NOW PAC took and the opportunity it gave us to be a part of a historic achievement.
Every day, I am reminded that Hillary is making history, shaking things up, changing politics forever. Make no mistake, her way was paved by women who went before her – previous presidential candidates like Victoria Woodhull, Margaret Chase Smith, Shirley Chisholm, Patricia Schroeder, and Carol Moseley Braun. And now Hillary is paving the way for countless more women to run.

Hillary Clinton's historic race is setting an example not just for girls and women who dream of making it to the White House, but for any woman who aspires to thrive in a field or industry where men still dominate. It takes a brave woman to challenge the status quo, and Hillary is showing girls and young women everywhere that it's okay to be brave and smart and strong and accomplished and, yes, even ambitious.

There has been much ado about the importance of women voters this primary season (some of it uplifting, some of it silly, some of it downright offensive, I'm sorry to say). But it's important to take a moment in this Women's History month to remember that women only have been able to vote in this country since 1920 -- less than 100 years ago.

The many women whose courage and hard work and sacrifice won that victory include Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Harriet Tubman, Lucy Stone, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Carrie Chapman Catt, Mary Church Terrell and many more.

Without these women stepping into the lion's den, literally risking their lives, where would we be today? They understood how important the vote was to women – how it would give women the power to revolutionize their lives by reforming the laws that favored men.

Watching the election returns this year, I am thrilled to see women turning out to the polls and the caucuses in droves. They might not be thinking of it as they cast their votes, but these women are honoring history and creating it at the same time. And come next March, I hope to write about our first Women's History Month with President Hillary Clinton in office.

Until then, I hope you'll join me and send Hillary a Women's History Month card in recognition of her historic and history-making campaign. We can do this, together!