More than 250 women attended the Women to Women Leadership Luncheon at the Gateway building today. Three ladies were recognized with awards. Dr. Mary Schultz, with the the U of I College of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Illinois won the Business Professions Award. Bradley University’s Janet Lange received the Education and Arts Award, and the Community Service Award went to Polly Barton.
Christine Shay is the chair of the Women’s Fund Advisory Board. She says the awards recognize local women for bettering life for others in the community. “These are the women that make things happen. These are the ones either up leading the charge or behind the scenes, helping raise money, helping build businesses, excelling in their professions, making a difference every day to our community. What we’re doing here is recognizing their contribution.”
The awards luncheon also grants an annual student scholarship award. The Women’s Fund has contributed more than two hundred thousand dollars to local charities and programs that empower women and girls over the course of its 18 year existence.