SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS
African American woman wins YWCA/NCA Chocolate Chip Cookie Bakeoff

Washington, DC, July 18, 2005 - When Patricia Walls of Oxon Hill, Maryland entered the YWCA National Capital Area Chocolate Chip Cookie Bakeoff, winning was far from her imagining. "When I entered the contest, I never expected to be a finalist," shared the Stratford University School of Culinary Arts student. Yet the judges, including jazz artists Davey Yarborough and Esther Williams, saw something special in her recipe, or what Patricia calls an "infusion of flavors." Beating out nine other women, Patricia's cookie will become the YWCA/NCA centennial cookie, to be launched officially at the organization's 100th birthday celebration, September 28.

There is much cause for celebration. Long before Mrs. Fields cookies, the YWCA/NCA sold thousands of its original chocolate chip cookies. Fans included Willard Scott and First Lady Barbara Bush. With the move to its current headquarters, and no baking facilities, came the end of an era. Patricia's winning cookie brings back a tradition that pleases the palate and supports critical YWCA/NCA program needs.