YWCA Dayton will honor eight women during its 2017 Women of Influence awards luncheon on March 9, 2017, noon to 1 pm, at the Dayton Convention Center. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the award; with an average attendance of 800, it is the single largest daytime nonprofit event in Dayton.
Since 1998, the YWCA Dayton WOI Awards have recognized and honored the most influential women in the Dayton area, women who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Honorees in the Women of Influence Class of 2017 are:
- Amanda Wright Lane, international aviation advocate
- Carmen Gooden, co-founder and executive director, Linda Vista Inc.
- Sandy Gudorf, president, Downtown Dayton Partnership
- Michelle Riley, CEO, The Foodbank
- Judy Cook, former mayor, City of Oakwood
- Maj. Wendy Stiver, Dayton Police Department
- Stacy Thompson, vice president and regional manager for corporate responsibility banking, KeyBank
Additionally, Jeraldyne Blunden, founder of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, will be honored posthumously with the 2017 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award.
Says YW CEO Shannon Isom, “YWCA Dayton, its Board of Directors and the community are excited about Women of Influence every year; this year is especially significant as it marks 20 years of recognizing influential women in our region. I continue to be encouraged by the number of nominators who insightfully recognize that the fortitude and dedication of these women change lives, industry and our community. This is the legacy of YWCA.”
Honorees were selected from a pool of more than 70 nominations by YWCA leadership and the volunteer WOI Committee, led this year by Chair Anita Moore, owner of A. Moore Consulting LLC, and Co-chair Jenny Michael, vice president of marketing and corporate communications at CareSource.
The Women of Influence luncheon serves as the largest fundraiser for YWCA Dayton. Sponsorship opportunities, program advertising and ticket information are available at www.ywcadayton.org.
