YWCA presents honors to female visionaries
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
More than 400 people attend
ed the YWCA's annual
Leadership Awards luncheon last
Thursday. Dubbed, "Women of
Vision," the annual ceremony has
become a signature event for the
YW.
"We've been honoring
women in this community for
over 20 years," commented
Florence Corpening, CEO of the
YWCA, which includes both the
Glade Street and Gateway loca
tions. "Companies select the
women - they decide what
women they want to honor within
their corporation - we just get the
opportunity to honor them."
Eighteen women were recog
nized at the luncheon, held at the
Benton Convention Center this
year.
"They're all women of vision;
they have been productive in this
community, not only on their jobs
but in the community as well, and
that's what we look for in cele
brating women who receive this
award," Corpening said. "They
all have a lot of the same kind of
characteristics - dedication, car
ing and passion ."
Among those honored at
Thursday's event was a close knit
group of women known as the
"Fab Five." Michelle Cook, Lynn
Eisenberg, Sarah Holthouser.
Mary Jamis and Janie Wilson
came together to form The
Women's Fund in 2005.
"Numerous statistics show
and validate exactly why we're
doing what we're doing," Wilson
said. c "From the domestic vio
lence numbers to the poverty
numbers to the unequal education
numbers - you name it - women
get the short shrift, and" that's
unfortunate.
We're hoping to certainly make a
difference."
To date, the nonprofit has
awarded nearly $150000 in grant
money to local institutions and
initiatives that serve women and
girls.
"I was blown away by the
void in our community - so many
women with so many needs,"
Cook commented. "We looked at
the community and all of the
YWCA Photos
Dozens of local women of excellence were honored last week.
money that goes to issues, but
(only) a small percentage of it was
going to women and girls in our
community."
The fund is a donor-advised
subsidiary of the Winston-Salem
Foundation. Its membership is
open to any woman who wishes
to join, Holthouser says.
"It recognizes that every
woman is a philanthropist if she
acknowledges it herself," she
commented.
More than 650 women have
become members so far.
"Unlike most funds, we're
reaching out to our members and
asking them, 'How would you
spread thse dollars around?"'
Jamis explained. "We give them
a vote and we've found that it's a
very important piece of why they
participate in this process ."
The work has been powerful
for the founders as well,
Eisenberg says.
"It's been so exciting and
enriching to see that women have
a voice and a lot of women don't
know that they have one," she
commented. 'Together, we're
making a difference and hopeful
ly, that will continue and we will
continue to grow."
i i
Current YWCA CEO Florence Corpening with trailblazer
Martha Young, a former head of the agency.
As head of the nation's oldest
educational institution for
women. Dr. Susan Pauly knows a
thing or two about women of
vision. The Salem Academy and
College president spoke at length
about the many important roles
women play in her keynote
address. She urged those in the
audience to take time out to smell
the roses.
"There are hidden blessings in
the crazy quilt balance of our
lives," Pauly said. "Living fully
in the moment can bring surpris
ing gifts."
The YWCA is just as vital to
young women now as when it
was founded 100 years ago, Pauly
asserts.
Susan Pauly speaks. *v
"We know this work is far
from over," she sAid. "We can
choose any category - health,
education, literacy - and see we
have rrfuch to do."
She praised the honorees for
their dedication to the cause of
helping others.
"Each of you set a uniqug.
shining example," she pro
claimed. "Winston-Salem can
only grow stronger for women
like you."
In addition to the Fab Five, 13
other women were recognized as
2008 Women of Vision. They are:
Jean Adams, nominated by
Womble, Carlyle. Sandrige &
Rice; Betsy Annese nominated by
NewBridge Bank; Simona Atkins
Allen, nominated by Excalibur
Direct Mail / Marketing Services;
Karen Bartoletti, nominated by
Kate B. Reynolds Charitable
Trust; Dr. Sharon Covitz, nomi
nated by Forsyth Technical
Community College; Brennan
Dawson, nominated by Reynolds
American, Inc?.; Annamarie
D'Souza, nominated by,
Hanesbrands, Inc.; Margaret Ann
Hofler, nominated by BB&T;
Pam Kahl, nominated by Lois
Levin; Sallye Liner, nominated by
United Way of Forsyth County;
Leigh McMillan, nominated by
Annese Public Relations; Willette
Mosby-Reynolds, nominated by
Wachovia; and Maijorie Rorie,
nominated by Truliant Federal
Credit Union. WXII's Nicole
Ducouer served as emcee and
Shirley Shouse served as lunch
eon chair.
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