Submitted by The YWCA of Olympia
20th Annual Effort Honors South Sound Women Making Positive Impact in the Community
The YWCA of Olympia is pleased to announce that nominations for their 20th Annual Women of Achievement Celebration are now being accepted. Past honorees have included Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Karen Fraser, Governor Christine Gregoire, Olympia City Council Member & Vivala owner, Cheryl Selby, and Olympia Federal Savings President & CEO, Lori Drummond.
The YWCA of Olympia will once again honor women throughout the South Sound who have inspired and shaped the community. Nominees will be considered based on: 1) professional achievement, 2) peer recognition, 3) personal growth, 4) demonstration and inspirational involvement in the community, and 5) how she models her life in accordance with the YWCA of Olympia’s mission to empower women and eliminate racism through education, advocacy, service and leadership opportunities.
This year a special category is dedicated to women who are committed to the elimination of racism and promotion of racial justice. The YWCA’s commitment to racial justice is one of the common threads that unites YWCAs across the country. Beginning in the mid-1800s, the YWCA was one of the first institutions to defy accepted societal opinions on race. Eliminating racism is one of the two central principles of the YWCA mission, along with the empowerment of women. And, at the core of the YWCA’s work is the recognition that not all women, or all people, are treated equally. For this reason, the YWCA of Olympia seeks to honor a South Sound woman who works towards racial justice in the South Sound.
Nominations are due to the YWCA of Olympia by 5:00pm on Friday, July 25th. This year nominations will be accepted via online application. Additional forms of the Nomination Application (Word, PDF) can be obtained by calling the YWCA at 352-0593 or sending an email to ywca@ywcaofolympia.org
Honorees will be formally announced to the community in August. The 20th Annual Women of Achievement Gala will take place on Thursday, November 6th from 5:30pm – 9:00pm at the Red Lion Hotel Forest Ballroom. The event is open to the public and tickets will be available by contacting the YWCA of Olympia at 352-0593 or online at www.ywcaofolympia.org. Once again Titus-Will has stepped up as the WOA Presenting Sponsor with WSECU and Lucky Eagle for serving as our Sustaining Sponsors.
For more information about the Women of Achievement Celebration Gala, contact Cherie Reeves Sperr, Special Events & Communications Director at 352-0593 or crsperr@ywcaofolympia.org.
