BREMERTON — The YWCA of Kitsap County is holding its award ceremony for the Women of Achievement awards April 22.
These awards, now in their 27th year according to Executive Director Denise Frey, honor women who have made a difference in the county.
“The YWCA’s mission is to empower women,” Frey said, “and so we take it upon ourselves every year to honor local women who have made an impact in their community.”
Frey said there were around 40 nominations for this year’s awards. Nominations started at the beginning of the year, and could be made by anybody. The easiest way to nominate, Frey said, is to download the form from the website, ywcakitsap.org.
“I’d like to see 100 women nominated,” Frey said. “We certainly want to encourage nominations.”
Frey said that in the past, awards were given with loosely defined categories, “like community champion, or arts, or education.” But this year, there were firm, defined categories the selection committee and volunteers kept in mind while sorting through the nominations to pick the awardees.
“The YWCA is an organization that’s been around for 150 years,” Frey said, “and our mission is to empower women and eliminate racism.
“Here in Kitsap County, we do domestic violence work, so it’s really important to us after working so much with disempowered women … to recognize women who have really made an impact, empowered women in our community, to basically say to the community, ‘This is what women can accomplish when they live abuse free.’ “
This year’s winners include: Lori Byerly, environmental sustainability; Lt. Genie Elton, public service; Tleena Ives, health and wellness; Susan Leavell, education; Stacy Marshal, community champion; Mallory Morrison, arts, culture and design; Robin O’Grady, nonprofit; Chris Rieland, outstanding workplace; and Julie Tappero, business and finance. Lori Maxim received special recognition.
The award ceremony will be a luncheon held from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the Kitsap Convention Center, 100 Washington Ave., Bremerton. Tickets cost $75; all the proceeds go to the YWCA’s domestic violence program. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ywcakitsap.org/wom en-of-achievement.
